Departmental Pensions

John Hemming: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the level of the Church of England's pension scheme deficit is; and what the capacity of the Church of England is to pay that deficit.

Tony Baldry: The Church of England Pensions Board administers three pension schemes on behalf of the Church of England.
	The Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (the scheme for clergy of the Church of England) had a deficit of £262 million at the last valuation, as at 31 December 2009. That deficit is being recovered over a 12 year period ending 31 December 2022.
	Smaller deficits exist on the other schemes, which are being recovered over shorter periods.

Victims’ Commissioner

Owen Smith: To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues and the Director of Public Prosecutions on the timetable for appointing a Victims' Commissioner.

Dominic Grieve: I have not had any discussions on this issue with the Director of Public Prosecutions or ministerial colleagues. Such an appointment would be a matter for the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke).

Crown Prosecution Service

Robert Buckland: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the potential effect on fairness of proceedings of the proposal by the London Area Crown Prosecution Service for prosecutors to make oral rather than written applications for the admission of hearsay and bad character evidence in proceedings in magistrates' courts.

Dominic Grieve: The principles which govern how hearsay and bad character applications are considered by the courts are prescribed by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the common law, and cannot be changed by any policy of the Crown Prosecution Service. The Criminal Procedure Rules 2011 allow notices and applications to adduce hearsay and bad character to be in writing, but also provide the courts with discretion to permit notices to be given or applications to be made orally and even to dispense with requirements for notice altogether. There is nothing inherently unfair in notices and applications being given or made orally. The rules apply across England and Wales.
	It is envisaged that prosecutors will ask for permission to make notices/applications orally where they consider it appropriate in the circumstances of the case. Where the defence oppose this approach they are entitled to make representations on the issue. As part of its duty to actively manage cases, the court will then consider whether to allow notice to be given in the form proposed. The court will determine the issue in a way that best furthers the overriding objective of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2011—that criminal cases be dealt with justly.

Japan Tobacco

Peter Hain: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) he and (b) his special advisers have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010.

David Cameron: Hospitality received by Ministers and Special Advisers is published on a quarterly basis.
	Details can be found on the Cabinet Office website:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations-april-june
	and
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-advisers-gifts-and-hospitality-april-june-2011

Members: Surveillance

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has reviewed the Wilson Doctrine; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Karl McCartney) on 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 501W.

Adam Werritty

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the pre-posting briefing meeting held in the Ministry of Defence in September 2010 for Mr Matthew Gould as HM Ambassador Designate to Israel with his predecessor and Mr Adam Werritty, referred to at paragraph 6, page 2 of the report by the Cabinet Secretary on Allegations against right hon. Dr Liam Fox MP was held in a private official room; which departmental officials were present at that meeting; whether official notes of the meeting were taken; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 12 December 2011
	As the Cabinet Secretary’s report states
	“I understand that this was a general discussion on international defence and security matters to enable Mr Gould better to understand MOD’s perspective of the security situation in the Middle East.”
	The meeting was held in the Defence Secretary’s office. Mr Gould was present as Her Majesty’s Ambassador Designate. It was a general discussion; no officials from the Ministry of Defence were present, therefore no official record or notes were taken.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence his Department has received from the Scottish Government on its RAF basing review.

Nick Harvey: We do not normally publish private correspondence between the Department and the devolved Administrations.

Armed Forces: Pay

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to protect and improve the overall financial package for armed forces personnel.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 19 December 2011
	To protect and improve the overall financial package for armed forces personnel, we have ensured that all those eligible for incremental pay continue to receive this, even in times of a pay freeze. This ensures around 70% of service personnel receive a pay rise every year. We have further ensured that all those earning under £21,000 per annum have received a £250 consolidated pay rise, while the pay freeze is in place. Once the pay freeze is lifted, we will enable an uplift of 1% in the armed forces’ pay bill in addition to all those eligible continuing to receive their incremental pay. We have doubled the operational allowance to over £5,000 for a tour of six months and increased council tax rebate to 50% for those on operations and, following necessary reductions to allowances announced in Strategic Defence and Security Review, we have ensured that we retain an appropriate and proportionate allowance package.
	In addition, our work on the new employment model programme aims to strike a better balance between service and the demands placed on service personnel and their families, adjusting the elements that make up the offer to better reflect how people actually live, to ensure that a career in the armed forces, remains attractive and competitive.

Armed Forces: Pay

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason he has not adopted the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

Andrew Robathan: Successive Governments have accepted in full, without staging, all Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body recommendations since 1999. In 1998 a recommendation for one group of medical personnel was abated by 0.5%. The Pay Review Body’s next report is expected in early 2012.

Departmental Procurement

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, columns 428-9W, on departmental procurement, on what basis the sample of 42 projects out of a total of 2,580 was selected; what those 42 projects were; and whether it is the standard practice of his Department to conduct an audit of projects on the basis of a sample size of 1.5 per cent.

Nick Harvey: To identify whether the controls were operating effectively, the selection was based partly on a random sample and partly on the basis of suspected non-compliance. The 42 tasks were as follows:
	Riskhive training courses
	Ballast water report and develop operating procedures
	Centralised data warehouse
	Safety management system
	Project safety and airworthiness tasks
	Upgrade airworthiness and safety data repository
	Medical consumables schedule
	Technical support to the attrition requirement
	Review of cost estimates
	Threat hazard assessment and ship explosive safety case reports
	Signal smoke parachutist assessment
	Review and update of safety and environmental report
	Invitation to Tender bid evaluation report
	Business agreement negotiations and business case development
	Legacy finance tasks
	Requirements manager
	Security assurance co-ordinator
	Transport of vehicles
	Requirements analysis and solution exploration
	Defence information infrastructure input to the Joint Project Co-ordination Office
	Human resource transition strategy
	Revision to ‘Green Book’—(An intro to environmental management in the MoD acquisition process)
	Provision of technical support x 7
	Bowman management information systems subject matter expert
	Requirements capture and control
	Installations and systems safety
	Future installations support
	Independent safety advice
	Specialist technical support—business solutions requirements manager
	Initial programme design
	Specialist technical support—Crypto x 2
	Development of user training materials
	Development of training requirements specialist technical advice
	Security specialist technical support.
	The sample size varies depending on the audit, timescales, resources etc. In this case it was originally intended to review a sample of 25 to identify whether controls were effective, but this was later extended.

Public Private Partnerships: Private Finance Initiative

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on (a) public private partnerships and (b) private finance initiative provision; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: Public Private Partnerships (PPP) cover all types of collaboration across the private-public sector interface involving collaborative working and risk sharing to deliver policies, services, and infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) follows HM Treasury policy in this area and adopts these arrangements where they offer best value for money.
	Similarly, the policy for Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) is set by HM Treasury and implemented by the MOD Private Finance Unit. The MOD has no preference for PFI over any other form of procurement and continues to consider the use of private finance alongside all other appropriate acquisition options at the outset of all procurements. No MOD projects are currently pursuing a PFI procurement strategy.
	The MOD intends to play an active part in contributing to the reform agenda for PFI announced to the House on 15 November 2011, Official Report, columns 34-35WS, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the trial of the deployment of Atos-approved healthcare professionals in benefit centres.

Chris Grayling: There are no plans to publish the outcome as the evaluation was aimed at advising the internal DWP decision-making process to determine next steps for health care professional deployment in benefit centres for ESA and IB reassessment cases. Results of the trial were positive with both DWP decision makers and Atos health care professionals benefiting from the arrangement. However, at the end of the trial, Atos health care professional capacity pressures meant that the initiative could not be continued. From the start of December, DWP and Atos have agreed the implementation of a telephone helpline so that Decision Makers can speak directly to health care professionals to obtain medical advice in specific cases. This is an interim arrangement until Atos are in a position to reintroduce the deployment of health care professionals in benefit centres.

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos-approved healthcare professionals are deployed in benefit centres (a) in total and (b) in each region.

Chris Grayling: There are currently no Atos Health Care Professionals deployed in Benefit Centres for ESA and IB Re-assessment cases as Atos Health Care Professional capacity pressures meant that the initiative could not progress beyond the trial. From the start of December, DWP and Atos have agreed the implementation of a telephone help line so that Decision Makers can speak directly to Health Care Professionals to obtain medical advice in specific cases. This is an interim arrangement until Atos are in a position to re-introduce the deployment of Health Care Professionals in Benefit Centres.

Atos Healthcare: Training

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days of training are provided to approved healthcare professionals working for Atos Healthcare to undertake the work capability assessment in dealing with mental health conditions that are not within their clinical specialism.

Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare only train Healthcare Professions approved by my Department.
	These professionals receive, as a minimum, to undertake the Work Capability Assessment:
	11 days for doctors of which five days is for mental health training
	23 days for nurses of which nine days is for mental health training
	26 days for physiotherapists of which 14 days is for mental health training
	There is continual professional development offered to support carrying out work capability assessments, including the assessment of mental health conditions.

Departmental Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 session to date.

Chris Grayling: In the 2010-12 Session to the end of November 2011, 4,250 questions for ordinary written answer had received a substantive response, of which:
	(a) 3,491 (82%) were answered within 10 sitting days;
	(b) 547 (13%) were answered between 11 and 20 sitting days;
	(c) 118 (3%) were answered between 21 and 30 sitting days; and
	(d) 95 (2%) were answered in more than 30 sitting days.
	The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide this information to the committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Employment and Support Allowance

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in the work-related activity group of contributory employment and support allowance with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other long-term degenerative conditions.

Chris Grayling: The information requested relating to people with multiple sclerosis is given as follows.
	The term degenerative disease/condition is a general one; it may apply to any condition that leads to gradual deterioration, therefore this can encompass a wide variety of conditions. This may include conditions as diverse as neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal conditions and even cancer. It is therefore difficult to quantify the conditions to which the question refers.
	
		
			 Employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants in the work related activity group, with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in Great Britain, May 2011 
			  All Claimants with a contributory element 
			 Claimants in the work related activity group 209,140 102,010 
			 Multiple sclerosis 1,640 1,250 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Benefit type: The type of ESA is defined as pay status at the caseload date—this may differ to the status at the start or end of the claim. 3. Phase/stage of ESA claim is derived from payment details held on the source system. Where the claimant is not in receipt of any benefit payment then the stage of benefit is shown as unknown. 4. There are a number of claimants entitled to both the contributory and income-based elements of ESA. Source: DWP, Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS).

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions an individual who claimed employment and support allowance on or after 31 October 2011 did not receive a telephone call from the Jobcentre Plus Decision Maker advising what would happen following the outcome of the work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: The telephone call by the Decision Maker to explain the outcome of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was introduced as part of the Harrington Review changes to better support customers making a claim for employment and support allowance (ESA) on or after 31 October 2011. Due to the length of time it takes to complete the WCA process, telephone calls have not yet commenced for the majority of claimants. Telephone calls have been completed for some straight-forward cases, where the claimant has been found to have Limited Capability for Work and no face to face assessment was required. For claimants who have attended a face to face assessment and been found to have no Limited Capability for Work calls are expected to commence in the new year.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the ESA50 questionnaire; if he will publish the outcome of his most recent review of the ESA50 questionnaire; and when he next plans to review the ESA50 questionnaire.

Chris Grayling: The ESA50 questionnaire was reviewed during late 2010 and early 2011. This resulted in a new version of the ESA50 questionnaire being launched on 14 March 2011. This version incorporated many of the recommendations made by Professor Harrington and a number of disability groups consulted as part of the review.
	As the Government set out in its response to Professor Harrington's second independent review, we are now working with Mind, Mencap and the National Autistic Society to review the ESA50 questionnaire in light of the recommendations they made to Professor Harrington to improve the WCA.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many formal complaints he has received in relation to the ESA50 questionnaire since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: There is no central record of formal complaints received in relation to form ESA50, the Work Capability Assessment questionnaire. The ESA50 questionnaire is kept under review taking account of individual complaints received.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the main employment and support allowance letters; if he will publish the outcome of his most recent review of the main employment and support allowance letters; and when he next plans to review the main employment and support allowance letters.

Chris Grayling: Minor changes were made to the main employment and support allowance letters in May 2011 to improve the clarity in distinction between contributory and income related ESA. Further small improvements may be made in the future if there is the capacity for changes to computer systems and funding permits. Letters are currently being reviewed as part of the proposals to time limit ESA from 2012. There are no plans to publish a review of ESA letters.

Employment and Support Allowance: Drugs

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the classification by Atos of employment and support allowance recipients who are receiving residential treatment for drug or alcohol misuse as having limited capability for work without requiring them to attend a face-to-face assessment.

Chris Grayling: In March 2011, we revised employment and support allowance legislation to ensure that it met the policy intent to treat claimants as having limited capability for work on any day they attend residential rehabilitation for the treatment of drug or alcohol addiction. This widened the original provision to cover individuals receiving such treatment as part of a residential programme where no medical staff are present.
	We have not provided Atos healthcare with specific guidance on the classification of residential treatment; as we believe it has a commonly understood meaning. The policy intent is to ensure that we consider a wider scope of programmes that could satisfy this provision. It is for Atos healthcare practitioners to gather and review the evidence on this issue and then provide advice on whether they consider the provision to be satisfied. It is then for departmental decision makers to consider all the available evidence and make a decision on entitlement.
	During summer 2011, DWP officials engaged with the National Treatment Agency to better communicate the intent of this provision. We have received no other representation.

Employment Schemes

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Work Choice Programme and (b) the Government's policies on job retention for those with neurological conditions.

Maria Miller: Qualitative research on the effectiveness of the Work Choice programme is being undertaken in a phased approach. The first stage of this was published on 24 November 2011. This document/publication is available on our website at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/ihs-index.asp
	The Department has a programme of activity to help working-age people with a health condition remain in or return to work, by working with other Government Departments, devolved Governments and three key stakeholder groups; employers (specifically focusing on providing SME businesses with a greater capacity to deal effectively with health issues and sickness absence), health care professionals (to engender cultural change within the health care professions to ensure that good quality back-to-work advice is embedded in good clinical practice in primary and secondary care) and the participants themselves (focusing on supporting them to retain work when health issues arise). This support is not condition specific and so not specifically targeted at those with neurological conditions.
	The Department has and continues to carry out research with GPs to evaluate the Statement of Fitness for Work, or fit note. Qualitative research with GPs on the fit note was published in November 2011 and is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/report_abstracts/rr_abstracts/rra_780.asp
	Two further pieces of research, an employee survey and a project involving the collection of fit note data, which will examine causes of sickness absence from work where a fit note was issued, will be published at the end of 2012 and in summer 2013 respectively.
	The Department plans to publish an evaluation of the occupational health advice service pilots in February 2012. An interim report was published in the summer and is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/summ2011-2012/DWP_occ_health_summ.pdf
	The Department plans to publish from year one of the Fit for Work Service pilots, including research with clients, management information, and interviews with key stakeholders, in early 2012. The final evaluation report, which will include interviews with service users and comparison data for an impact study, will be published in late 2012.

Every Decision Counts

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Every Decision Counts events his Department has held (a) in total and (b) in each region.

Chris Grayling: A total of 11 Every Decision Counts events have been held since September 2010. The events are telephone audio conferences and are open to decision makers within DWP Benefits Directorate across all regions of the UK.

General Medical Council

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made a submission to the General Medical Council consultation on good medical practice on the duty of a healthcare professional and the return of a patient to employment.

Chris Grayling: The Department did make a recent submission to the General Medical Council's consultation on good medical practice. This has been placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit: Offenders

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to include ex-offenders in the category of vulnerable people for the purposes of direct payment of housing benefit to landlords.

Steve Webb: Currently in housing benefit, for the vast majority of tenants in the social rented sector, rent is paid direct to the landlord. In the private rented sector, the local housing allowance is paid direct to the tenant unless they have built up arrears of eight weeks or more. Additional safeguards are in place for people to allow for payment to the landlord where the local authority feels that a tenant is likely to have difficulty paying their rent. This could include people who have recently left prison.
	In preparation for universal credit, we are running six Housing Demonstration projects from June 2012 to June 2013 to test out elements of a direct payment to tenant process. This includes testing how we can provide support and exemptions for those who are less able to manage financially. An evaluation of the projects will be conducted by independent contractors; CRESR at Sheffield Hallam University, the Oxford Institute of Social Policy (OISP) at the University of Oxford, and Ipsos MORI.

Housing Benefit: Pensioners

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the (a) equity and (b) financial pressures on other vulnerable groups arising from the measures in respect of pensioners proposed for housing benefit reform.

Steve Webb: As part of the proposed benefit reforms outlined in the Welfare Reform Bill, housing benefit will be abolished. The proposal is that support for eligible rent for pensioners, will form part of pension credit with the introduction of a new housing credit. The policy on this housing credit is still being developed and the impacts will form part of the overall assessment being developed to support the Welfare Reform Bill. This will include the impacts on all groups from the wider benefit reforms being proposed. I have included a list of published impact assessments on housing benefit reform as follows:
	Consumer prices index uprating of local housing allowance (Welfare Reform Bill)
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hb-lha-cpi-uprating-wr2011-ia.pdf
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-hb-lha-cpi-uprating-wr2011.pdf
	Local housing allowance changes
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-impact-nov10.pdf
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/impacts-of-hb-proposals.pdf
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-eia-nov10.pdf
	Non-dependant deduction changes
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-ndd-2011.pdf

Jobcentre Plus: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness amongst Jobcentre Plus staff.

Chris Grayling: All Jobcentre Plus staff undertake diversity and equality learning to raise awareness and help them understand issues faced by disabled customers and claimants, including those who are deaf or hearing impaired and other customers with “hidden” disabilities. Jobcentre Plus advisers and disability employment advisers also receive additional training on disability to enable them to provide the right support to individual customers and claimants. This is supplemented by guidance which includes advice on making reasonable adjustments for disabled people, including deaf people, to ensure they have full access to services. This approach ensures staff are fully equipped to deal effectively with the needs of a diverse customer base.
	Training packages also stress the importance of sign posting customers and claimants to organisations where they can obtain specialist help and support, when required. The learning includes improving accessibility to Jobcentre Plus services by supporting customers and claimants with specific communication barriers, including the use of loop-aids, text phones, “typetalk” and interpreters. There is also practical advice given on talking to customers and claimants with a hearing impairment. Jobcentre Plus and DWP learning and support materials are updated regularly to ensure they reflect advancements in practices and techniques, enabling staff to provide a high quality, personalised and flexible service to meet the needs of all our customers and claimants.

Jobseeker's Allowance

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria will be used to determine eligibility for his proposed wage incentives scheme after (a) three and (b) six months in receipt of jobseeker's allowance.

Chris Grayling: 160,000 wage incentives worth £2,275 each will be available to employers who recruit an 18-24 year old who is participating in the Work programme.
	The point at which an 18-24 year old is referred to the Work programme depends on the type of benefit they are claiming and their individual circumstances.
	Some of the most disadvantaged young people claiming jobseekers allowance (JSA) will be required to participate in the Work programme after three months of their claim to JSA. Others, for example care leavers and those with substance abuse problems, have the option of accessing the Work Programme after three months of their JSA claim. 18-24 year olds without additional disadvantages will be referred to the Work programme after nine months.
	18-24 year olds claiming employment and support allowance (ESA) who are expected to be fit for work within 3 or 6 months are required to participate in the Work programme from the date of their work capability assessment. All other 18-24 year olds claiming ESA can volunteer for the Work programme from the date of their work capability assessment.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Bridgend

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claim jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in Bridgend constituency; how many people he estimates would receive JSA if the work capability assessment (WCA) were applied to all existing recipients of employment and support allowance (ESA) and incapacity benefit (IB) in Bridgend constituency; how many people he estimates would be in the work-related group of ESA if the WCA were applied to all existing recipients of ESA and IB in Bridgend constituency; how many job vacancies originating in Bridgend constituency were advertised by Jobcentre Plus in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: In November 2011, 1,809 people were claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in the Bridgend constituency.
	In May 2011, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,230 claimants of employment and support allowance (ESA) in Bridgend constituency, of which, 440 were in the work-related activity group. There were also 3,400 working-age claimants of old-style incapacity benefits (incapacity benefit, income support on the grounds of incapacity, and severe disablement allowance).
	The Department regularly publishes national and regional information on the outcomes of the work capability assessment (WCA) for ESA claimants. Equivalent information is not available at parliamentary constituency level. However, for Bridgend unitary authority, for all initial WCAs completed between October 2008 and May 2011, 2,200 (60%) were assessed to be fit for work. Of those who have subsequently closed their claim, around 800 went on to make a claim for JSA shortly after being assessed as fit for work. There may also be some individuals who did not initially move onto JSA but made a claim at a later date. However, of those who have claimed JSA since closing an ESA claim, some will have since moved off benefits altogether.
	Many existing IB claimants in Bridgend will be undergoing reassessment over a three-year period from April 2011 and it is not possible to determine at this early stage how many people will be assessed as in the work-related activity group or how many will claim JSA as a result of being assessed as fit for work.
	Jobcentre Plus has received the following vacancies over the past year:
	
		
			 Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus, Bridgend 
			  Number 
			 2010  
			 December 431 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 483 
			 February 579 
			 March 439 
			 April 676 
			 May 991 
			 June 1,011 
			 July 673 
			 August 560 
			 September 601 
			 October 660 
			 November 545 
			 Note: Figures are not seasonally adjusted but are standardized onto a 4 1/3 week basis. Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk

Pension Credit: Bridgend

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual level of savings to the public purse which will accrue from reforming pension credit to require both partners to be eligible for pension credit in order to qualify for the couples rate; how many couples in Bridgend constituency comprise one person of working age and one person eligible for pension credit; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Government have decided that for households where one member of a couple is over the qualifying age for pension credit and the other member is of working age, only universal credit will be available.
	The Government believe that all people of working age who can work should be expected to do so and that it is not right to continue the current position where pension credit can go to households which contain a person of working age without that person having to meet any work-related requirements. The universal credit approach provides financial support to such couples, while giving the working age member of the couple access to support in finding work.
	We have already acknowledged that it will be important not to undermine the stability and outcomes for existing pension credit customers, so the change will not apply to couples already in receipt who will continue to get pension credit while they retain entitlement.
	It is estimated that this policy could save up to £100 million over this spending review. Because of the interaction with other changes to support pensioners, which are still being developed, we are not yet able to provide a firm estimate for a long run figure for savings.
	There are approximately *100 claimants on pension credit in the Bridgend constituency with a partner aged under 60.
	Notes:
	1. *This figure is based on very few sample cases and is subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	2. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	3. The estimate of the number of claimants assumes that pension credit is available when one partner reaches age 60. However, the qualifying age for pension credit is increasing in line with the increase in women’s state pension age. At February 2011, the qualifying age for pension credit was between 60 and four months and 60 and five months. Current data do not allow analysis that takes account of the increase in qualifying age.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample.

Pensions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have met representatives of (i) the British Bankers Association and (ii) the Association of British Insurers to discuss the charges or commission or fees paid by people with a private pension; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Department publishes on a quarterly basis, details of all meetings between DWP Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and external organisations. The following links will give you access to information up to and including 30 June 2011.
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ps-meetings-external-orgs.shtml
	Senior officials have met with representatives of the Association of British Insurers. One meeting, on 2 November, included a discussion of the issues concerned.

Pensions

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the burden of administration for the pensions industry.

Steve Webb: The burden of administration for the pensions industry will be reviewed as part of the Department's response to the Red Tape Challenge.
	The Red Tape Challenge (RTC) is a cross government initiative, led by Cabinet Office, which seeks to review all Government legislation, with an emphasis on those statutory instruments which affect business. The aim of the RTC is to revoke or simplify as much legislation as possible to ease burdens on employers and business.
	Pensions will be highlighted as a main theme on the RTC website in spring for three weeks. This 'Spotlight' period will encourage members of the public to reflect on pensions regulations and provide a focus for the pensions part of the RTC generally.
	The Department views this as a real opportunity to look objectively at pensions policy and go back to first principles to consider whether the legislation as it stands reflects the Department's priorities, is generally fit for purpose and does not place undue burdens on the pensions industry. We are in the early stages of this process.
	We will be looking to work closely with stakeholders on the RTC throughout this process—beginning in the new year. There will be extensive scope for all interested parties to offer their views on how pension legislation can be simplified and what can be removed.
	In addition, we are also reviewing the legislation which requires pension schemes to disclose information to their members (and others—beneficiaries, for example). Our aim is to consolidate, clarify and, where possible, harmonise the requirements for occupational and personal pension schemes. We are also deleting some requirements and enabling schemes to disclose more information electronically. We intend to consult on draft regulations and introduce the updated legislation during 2012; early discussions with stakeholders indicate that they support the proposals.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long a citizen of an East European (A8) member of the EU has to be in the UK before they can claim (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) other benefits.

Chris Grayling: There is no set period in which an A8(1) national must reside in the UK before they can claim benefits. Since 1 May 2011, A8 nationals have had the same access to the UK labour market and benefit system as nationals of other, longer established EEA member states.
	To claim any benefit, individuals must meet the normal entitlement conditions of that benefit, including any residence requirements. For example, A8 nationals who have worked in the UK and paid national insurance contributions may claim contributory benefits such as contribution-based jobseeker's allowance as soon as they satisfy the contributions and other conditions for the benefit.
	A8 workers, like any other EEA nationals who have not paid sufficient contributions may claim income-based jobseeker's allowance providing they satisfy the habitual residence test. This requires an individual to demonstrate that they have a right to reside and are habitually resident in the common travel area(2). Those who are not defined as workers or who are not actively seeking work are generally unable to claim any income-related benefits regardless of the length of time they have lived in the UK.
	The UK non-contributory disability benefits (disability living allowance, attendance allowance and carer's allowance) have residence and presence conditions, which require claimants to be ordinarily resident and to be present in the UK for 26 out of the last 52 weeks. Migrants do not have to satisfy the residence and presence conditions so long as they remain in work in the UK. In other cases, where the claimant has not been present for 26 out of 52 weeks, the UK must consider whether the claimant has a sufficient link to the UK before allowing a claim.
	(1) The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
	(2) The United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland.

Vocational Training

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish his Skills Strategy.

John Hayes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government published their skills strategy “Skills for Sustainable Growth” alongside “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” in November 2010. The documents together describe the principles, objectives and direction of our reforms of the skills system. Since then we have greatly expanded apprenticeships places, introduced major local freedoms and flexibilities in skills provision placing learners, employers and communities in the driving seat, and introduced the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF). The GIF will help businesses to act collectively to develop effective solutions to skills barriers that are hampering their growth potential.
	Apprenticeships are at the heart of the system we are building, and we are well on course to deliver at least 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years compared with the previous Administration’s plans. Our ambition is that the UK should have a world class skills base that is socially inclusive, supports growth and provides a consistent source of competitive advantage. “Skills for Sustainable Growth” and “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” can be accessed at
	www.bis.gov.uk/skillsforgrowth
	On 1 December, this Department published “New Challenges, New Chances” describing the Government’s strategy for further education and skills for the rest of this Parliament. I wrote to all MPs on 5 December setting out our reform plan and how it will build on the successes already achieved, based on the principles underpinning “Skills for Sustainable Growth”. It will also take into account the responses to our “New Challenges, New Chances” consultation which can be accessed at
	www.bis.gov.uk/consultations
	As a model of public sector reform, we are simultaneously reducing legislative burdens and removing centrally dictated restraints to empower learners to shape the skills system, from basic skills provision through to the higher level skills most critical to growth. Copies of all the documents referred to are available in the Libraries of the House.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the trials of personalised summary statements in (a) Wrexham and (b) Oldham Benefit Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: There are no plans to publish the outcomes from the trials in Wrexham and Oldham benefit centres. Professor Harrington recommended as part of his first review issuing the Atos Personalised Summary Statement to all claimants. The outcome of the trial in Wrexham benefit centre issuing the Atos Personalised Summary Statement to disallowed claimants was discussed with Professor Harrington and a change to his original recommendation agreed: to issue the decision maker's reasons for the decision instead of the Atos statement. This better aligns with his other recommendations to support claimants through the claim process and to put decision makers at the heart of that process. Issuing the decision maker's reasons for the decision has been trialled in Oldham and on the basis of this trial is to be introduced nationally in the new year. Professor Harrington endorses this in his second review, noting it as a considerable improvement on his original recommendation. It will continue to be monitored as part of ongoing evaluation.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the audio recording pilot in the Newcastle Assessment Centre.

Chris Grayling: We have received the evaluation report of the pilot. We are currently considering the evaluation evidence carefully to understand the costs and implications of audio recording as well as whether it will improve the assessment further for individuals.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the decision by the General Medical Council (GMC) of 4 October 2010 that an Atos Healthcare professional carrying out an assessment of a claimants suitability for disability living allowance is not subject to paragraph 2(a) of the good medical practice guidance; and what discussions he has had with the GMC on this issue.

Chris Grayling: The Department has not made any assessment of the decision, nor have there been any discussions with the GMC on this issue.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what auditing process is undertaken by his Department in relation to the number of successful appeals by those found fit for work by Atos Healthcare and his Department's decision-makers following a work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: All allowed appeals are referred back to DWP decision makers so that any learning points can be identified. Local arrangements are in place to cascade relevant information as appropriate. DWP is also working with HMCTS to identify any trends in decisions which it could usefully address.

Work Capability Assessment

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what follow-up procedures are in place to determine the reason for a claimant's failure to attend a work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: When a claimant fails to attend a work capability assessment Medical Services will write to the claimant asking why they have not attended. The letter asks the claimant to reply to the Benefit Centre dealing with their claim within seven days.
	At the same time, Medical Services separately notifies the Benefit Centre that the claimant has failed to attend.
	Where the claimant is considered vulnerable because of their particular health condition a decision maker will attempt to make contact by telephone.
	If we are unable to contact a vulnerable person, the Department will attempt to visit the claimant to establish their reason for not attending.

Work Capability Assessment

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on implementing the (a) proposals to revise the work capability assessment for people with fluctuating conditions and (b) other recommendations of the Year Two review of the work capability assessment by Professor Harrington.

Chris Grayling: Professor Harrington submitted the recommendations of the group looking at fluctuating conditions to the Department in late November 2011. The Department is now considering these recommendations carefully before coming forward with a response.
	The Department welcomes the recommendations of Professor Harrington's second independent review and has set out its response to each recommendation in the Government response to the review published on 24 November 2011.
	To date we have receive no representations on these specific issues.

Work Capability Assessment: Appeals

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Atos Healthcare undertakes any assessment of the outcome of appeals on Work Capability Assessment.

Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare assess feedback from the Appeals Tribunal Service, where its medical assessment is identified as substandard. The Appeals Tribunal Service handle appeals of the Department of Work and Pension's decision about a claimant's entitlement to a benefit following a Work Capability Assessment.

Work Programme

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people aged over 50 years who will find sustainable employment through the Work programme in (a) the East Midlands region and (b) Leicester City in each of the next three years.

Chris Grayling: The Department has not set Work programme performance expectations specifically for people aged over 50 years.

Canal and River Trust

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency measures are being put in place by her Department to protect the new Canal and River Trust from the risk of unpredictable major infrastructure failures.

Richard Benyon: The Government are committed to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the waterways. Negotiations are currently under way between the Government and the Transition Trustees of the Canal and River Trust (CRT) to secure a long-term funding agreement for the waterways.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, the CRT will take over the statutory functions undertaken by British Waterways to maintain the waterways in England and Wales. It will inherit from British Waterways a risk management strategy to deal with any infrastructure failures, including setting aside a contingency fund on an annual basis, and like British Waterways will be able to divert funds from planned spending should any unplanned incidents occur.
	Once the funding agreement has been reached, the Government will expect the CRT, as is currently the case with British Waterways, to operate and maintain the canal network in a way which enables it to deal with infrastructure failures without additional support from the Government, as is currently the case with British Waterways. The CRT will have access to new income streams such as donations, charitable grants and legacies, an ability to borrow against their property assets, wider commercial opportunities and fundraising.

Departmental Catering

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether food and catering services in (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible plan to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards.

Richard Benyon: Government Buying Standards (GBS) for Food and Catering, which were introduced for the first time in June this year, are designed to help people make healthier choices as well as promote more sustainable sourcing and operations in catering services. GBS are mandatory for central Government and are being promoted across the public sector. The best practice criteria includes calorie and allergen labelling on menus.
	DEFRA’s catering contract with Eurest covers core DEFRA, the Rural Payments Agency, the Marine Management Organisation, the Food and Environment Research Agency, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Natural England, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. DEFRA’s caterer has agreed to include calorie labelling on menu boards and this is rolling out across the DEFRA estate.
	The Environment Agency have a separate catering contract to DEFRA. Menus and display boards at the Environment Agency currently have healthy eating, vegetarian and organic labelling. The Environment Agency will be re-tendering food and catering services in early 2012 and will include calorie labelling at this point.

Departmental Consultants

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on consultancy by her Department since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: The core department has spent £10,198,919 on consultancy in the period May 2010 to October 2011.

Departmental Pay

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any senior staff in (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if she will publish her policy on such payments.

Richard Benyon: All senior staff (SCS equivalent and above) employed directly by the Department, employed directly in our Executive Agencies (Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Rural Payments Agency, Food and Environment Research Agency and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) and employed directly in our main executive non-departmental public bodies (Environment Agency, Natural England, Gangmasters Licensing Authority, Consumer Council for Water, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Marine Management Organisation and Joint Nature Conservation Committee) are covered by the Treasury's pay remit process, are paid through payroll.

Departmental Recycling

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she is taking steps to increase the proportion of waste recycled by her Department.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA and its agencies have reduced the quantity of waste they generate by 30% compared with 2004-05 levels, in 2010-11, a 42% recycling rate was achieved. Our waste is managed according to the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle hierarchy; this arrangement ensures that all waste is disposed of in the most environmentally responsible manner.
	We have introduced food waste collections for composting from our London, Alnwick and York sites. Our "bin the bin" programme removed desk side bins and encouraged staff to recycle their waste. This resulted in recycling rates increasing from an average of 35% to 82% at the sites involved.
	DEFRA's Procurement team is working with suppliers for new contracts to minimise packaging waste and to consider sustainability more widely in their service provision.
	A significant quantity of the Department's waste (approximately 67%) is generated by the laboratory estate and is the result of scientific research into plant and animal disease. For environmental protection reasons, this waste cannot be recycled and currently, the Department has no option than to send it to landfill or destroy it by incineration (much of which includes energy recovery). Over 75% of non-laboratory waste is already recycled. We are currently investigating opportunities for minimising laboratory waste sent to landfill.

Forestry

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what area of (a) lowland heathland and (b) other priority open habitat has been recreated by (i) Forestry Commission England, (ii) other Government departments and (iii) non-governmental organisations since the publication of the Forestry Commission document entitled When to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England: Government Policy.

Richard Benyon: This information is not yet available. Restoration of open habitat from forests and woodland in all ownerships is one of Forestry Commission England's impact indicators for 2011-15 and it is planning to publish this information annually commencing in May or June 2012.

Forestry

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the England Biodiversity Strategy's aspiration to create 200,000 hectares of new wildlife habitat by 2020 she estimates will be created under the provisions outlined in the Forestry Commission document, entitled When to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England: Government Policy.

Richard Benyon: We are currently developing the delivery plan for “Biodiversity 2020”, including working with partners to agree a more detailed plan for on-the-ground delivery action. This will provide more detail on how the biodiversity strategy's outcomes will be taken forward and is expected to be completed in spring 2012.

Solar Power

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of (a) farmers and (b) landowners who have installed solar panels in their fields; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect of such a practice on income to domestic households from the feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaics.

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply.
	DECC does not hold data on the number of farmers and landowners who have installed solar panels in their fields. However, at the end of November 2011, there were 301 solar photovoltaic installations on feed in tariffs for stand alone systems (schemes that are not attached to a building).
	The existence of installations in fields does not directly affect the potential income from FITs for domestic households. However, in setting future tariffs the Government need to take account of the total impact of the scheme on consumers' bills.
	The impact assessment accompanying the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV), available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
	This sets out the impact of our proposals on FITs support, generation and jobs.

Veterinary Laboratories Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many carcasses of each species have been examined in each regional veterinary laboratory for endemic disease purposes in each year since 2005.

James Paice: A document showing details of carcases examined for surveillance will be placed in the Library of the House. The information included is from 2005 to the present.

Bail Accommodation and Support Service

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities require planning consent for premises to be used for bail accommodation.

Bob Neill: The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for planning matters in Wales.
	In England, planning permission will be required if a new building is being built. Where a change of use of an existing building occurs planning permission may be required. This will depend on the particular circumstances of each case, including what the existing use is and the scale of any external physical works.
	Under the Use Classes Order in England, it is possible that bail accommodation could fall within the C2: Residential Institutions, C2A: Secure Residential Institutions, C3: Dwelling houses or be considered sui generis i.e. in a class of its own. It is for local planning authorities to determine which use class a particular use falls into and whether there has been a material change of use. They do so depending on the individual circumstances of each case.

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to tackle hate crime since May 2010; what further steps he plans to take in each of the next two years; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(2)  what reports he has received of the level of hate crime in (a) Southend West constituency, (b) Essex and (c) nationally since January 2011; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Lynne Featherstone: I have been asked to reply.
	Tackling hate crime is an issue the Government takes very seriously, and we are committed to doing more to support and protect victims. We are meeting the coalition commitment to improve the recording of such crimes, and working with the police and other partners to encourage more victims to come forward. We are also working with the Government's Independent Advisory Group to develop a new action plan on tackling all forms of hate crime, which will set out the Government's priorities over the coming years.
	Data on the level of reports of hate crime since January 2011 is currently not available. From 1 April this year, police forces started formally collecting data on hate crimes to meet the coalition commitment. This data will be published next year as official statistics, giving us a clear picture of local patterns and trends in hate crime and helping the police to target their resources more effectively.
	As an interim measure, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) agreed to publish its own data. The latest figures published cover the calendar year 2010, and are broken down by police force area. The information is available on ACPO's True Vision website at:
	http://www.report-it.org.uk/hate_crime_data1

Departmental Civil Proceedings

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisations that have received funding from his Department have brought legal proceedings against his Department in the last five years; which such organisations were not successful in their actions; and whether his Department (a) applied and (b) was paid for costs in respect of such cases.

Bob Neill: All litigation cases against the Department are managed by the Treasury Solicitors Department under a service level agreement.
	My Department does not hold a list of all legal proceedings in the last five years. The Department would have to pay the Treasury Solicitors Department to obtain this information.
	Obtaining this data, matching the two sets of information, creating a qualitative analysis of success or failure of the cases, and establishing the costs associated with the proceedings, would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold by a wide margin.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Staffordshire of 15 November 2011, how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) BlackBerry devices were issued to staff in the latest period for which figures are available; what the cost was of such devices; and what the cost was of the 735 such devices issued to staff on 1 May 2010.

Bob Neill: Currently 340 (a) mobile telephones and 552 (b) BlackBerry devices are on issue to staff within the Department. The actual cost of devices issued in a particular period could be disaggregated only from the overall cost (cost of device, line rental and call charges) of mobile devices at disproportionate cost.
	However I am able to confirm that since 1 May 2010 until 11 November the Department has spent a total of £265,105 with our mobile phone and BlackBerry suppliers.
	The number of mobile devices on issue within the Department has notionally increased because residual Government office and regional development agency staff have transferred into central DCLG and have also transferred their BlackBerry devices and mobile phones into the Department.
	In a lean business environment the Department recognises the advantages in remote working that BlackBerry devices bring.
	To drive down overall costs the Department has signed up to a centrally negotiated telephony agreement. The Department will now have greater certainty of telephony costs over the course of the central framework agreement as well greater flexibility with regard to contract length for each individual connection. The Department also has the opportunity to recoup a portion of total line rental spend from the supplier at the end of each financial year, the Department has used the collective bargaining power of the DCLG group to qualify for savings with suppliers.

Housing

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) housing starts and (b) housing completions for (i) social rent, (ii) intermediate rent, (iii) low cost home ownership, (iv) total affordable housing, (v) open market and (vi) total housing starts took place in each local authority area between (A) April and September and (B) October and March in each year since 1997.

Grant Shapps: holding answer 25 November 2011
	Affordable Housing Supply statistics can be found on my Department's website at the following link. These statistics are only collected annually:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/
	House building statistics can be found on the Department's website at the following link. These statistics are collected on a quarterly basis:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding
	The Homes and Communities Agency's National Housing Statistics (which exclude some affordable housing that is delivered without Homes and Communities Agency grant funding) can be found on the following link. These statistics are available on a six-monthly basis dating back to 2009-10:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/statistics
	The New Homes Bonus allocations also provide a valuable source of information on new housing and empty housing being brought back into use in each local authority area.

Housing: Fire Extinguishers

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 143W, on housing: fire extinguishers 
	(1)  which US data was relied on extensively in the final regulatory impact assessment published on 13 December 2006;
	(2)  with reference to the Building Research Establishment Report 204505: Effectiveness of sprinkles in residential premises—an evaluation of concealed and recessed pattern sprinkler products, which data from other countries was viewed as not directly applicable or appropriate for the UK situation.

Andrew Stunell: The details of the analysis carried out by the Building Research Establishment are set out fully in their reports. These are, as set out in my previous answers, readily available on the internet. The benefits associated with the installation of sprinklers were calculated by estimating of the number of deaths and injuries that might be avoided and of the associated reduction in property loss.
	Statistics from the United States were used to derive the estimated reduction in property loss. While the literature review included data from the United States of America, New Zealand and Canada, the researchers decided that they could not be used to robustly derive the estimated reductions in death and injury. Instead, a correlation between fire size and casualties was used.

Owner Occupation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of (a) current and (b) future rates of owner-occupation among different social groups.

Andrew Stunell: The English Housing survey has published information on owner-occupation among different social groups in England for 2009-10. Information on a variety of social groups can be found in table 1.2 at the following web address:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1937410.xls
	We do not forecast rates of owner occupation.

Owner Occupation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of rates of owner-occupation (a) nationally, (b) in each constituent part of the UK and (c) in each region;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of likely future trends in owner-occupation (a) nationally and (b) in each constituent part of the UK.

Andrew Stunell: Owner-occupation is given as part of the tenure split in the published live tables on dwelling stock which can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/livetables/
	Live table 101 shows UK figures, with England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island in tables 104, 105, 106 and 107 respectively. Live table 109 shows regional data for England.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government does not forecast trends in owner-occupation.

Public Houses: Co-operatives

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many co-operative pubs the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in his Department with responsibility for community pubs has visited in his official capacity since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: holding answer 15 December 2011
	Since taking on the role of Minister for Community Pubs, I have visited a number of community pubs in an official capacity. I have accepted invitations to visit two co-operative pubs next year, the George and Dragon at Hudswell, Yorkshire and the Fox and Hounds at Ennerdale, Cumbria.
	The Government are supportive of community pubs, including co-operatives, as valuable social hubs. Through the Right to Bid provisions in the Localism Act 2011, we are making it easier for communities to take over and retain these, and other, valuable local assets. The Government also support the work of other organisations, such as the Plunkett Foundation and Pub is the Hub, involved in helping communities to, where appropriate, take over and run their local pubs.

Animal Experiments: Primates

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the findings were of the most recent reviews of the two Mauritian centres which have supplied animals to the UK for scientific procedures in the last two years.

Lynne Featherstone: Both Mauritian centres that have supplied animals to the United Kingdom for scientific procedures in the last two years were classified as acceptable. There were no issues identified that required active monitoring by the inspectorate prior to the next review.

Asylum

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose cases (a) are pending and (b) failed are accommodated in (i) Newport East and (ii) other dispersal areas; and what proportion of such asylum seekers are single men.

Damian Green: holding answer 30 November 2011
	The current number of work in progress asylum cases in the categories specified is as follows:
	
		
			  (a) Pending Proportion of single males  (1)   (percentage) (b) Failed Proportion of single males  (1)   (percentage) 
			 (i) Newport East(2,3,4) 86 43 24 21 
			 (ii) Other dispersal areas(2,3,4) 11,354 21 9,692 18 
			 (1) Gender unknown cases not counted as male. (2) All figures quoted are management information which has been subject to internal quality checks. (3) Data relates to S4/S95 accommodated/dispersed cases only. (4) Postcodes are based on the applicants last known address.

Asylum: Reading West

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legacy cases concern asylum seekers resident in Reading West constituency; and how many of these are not (a) awaiting prosecution, (b) awaiting removal and (c) subject to ongoing litigation.

Damian Green: A total of 35 legacy asylum seekers are resident in Reading West, of these 10 do not meet the criteria under (a), (b) or (c) above. The data are sourced from a local management team and should be treated as provisional.

Crime Prevention: Expenditure

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was provided to (a) each local authority and (b) each individual non-statutory sector representative as part of the Communities Against Guns, Gangs and Knives Fund in 2010-11.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 15 November 2011
	The Communities Against Gangs, Guns and Knives Fund is not awarded to local authorities. It is a fund that provides £4 million over two years, in grants of up to £10,000 a year, to voluntary and community sector organisations.
	A list of these organisations, along with information on which local authority areas they will be working in and their allocated funding for 2010-11, can be found on the grant administrator's website:
	http://www.grantsadmin.co.uk/documents/CAGGKY11to12ProjectList.pdf

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were working in her Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011.

Damian Green: Information on the number of employees working in the Home Office is published on a regular basis by the Office for National Statistics, as "paid civil servants."
	This management information is produced and collated at the end of each month and, as such, figures are not yet available for 8 December 2011. The latest period for which information is available is as at 30 November 2011.
	I can confirm the following:
	(a) The Home Department employed 31,513 paid civil servants on 11( )May 2010.
	(b) The Home Department employed 26,642 paid civil servants on 30( )November 2011.

Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings she has had with the Scottish Government to discuss a UK-wide approach to tackling (a) human trafficking and (b) child trafficking since May 2010.

Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has not had meetings with the Scottish Government to discuss a UK-wide approach to tackling human trafficking, including child trafficking.
	I chair the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, of which, the Scottish Government are a standing member.

Passports: Gender

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to review how gender is represented in passports; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The “Advancing Transgender Equality—A Plan for Action” published by Home Office on 8 December 2011 set out our commitment to review how gender identification is represented in passport application forms and passports. We are engaging with international partners on the security and personal safety implications of gender displayed in the passport. This is part of the normal process of working with our partners to ensure that the British passport holder is able to travel freely, securely and without hindrance. Any changes to the UK passport would need to satisfy our rigorous security requirements. We will contact key stakeholders in the UK in the light of the outcome of our discussions with other countries and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding the Serious and Organised Crime Agency will receive in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The Serious Organised Crime Agency received £462,839 million from the Home Office in 2010-11, and is expected to receive £447,894 million in 2011-12.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the expenditure incurred by her Department on salaries for full-time investigation staff allocated to the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy for staff (a) engaged in detection, (b) engaged in investigations, (c) working on intelligence matters and (d) in total in 2009-10.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency deployed an estimated 1,504 full-time equivalent staff to the tobacco strategy in 2009-10, assigned to detection and intelligence duties. Further and more detailed information is not available as the Agency’s expenditure records are not broken down by specific functions and activities.
	Investigation and the provision of legal advice in relation to tobacco smuggling remained the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs.

Chief Coroner

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice by what date he expects to appoint the Chief Coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Lord Chief Justice is responsible for appointing the chief coroner under schedule 8 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. We are continuing to discuss the matter, including timescales, with the Lord Chief Justice.

Chief Coroner

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with (a) his ministerial colleagues and (b) the senior judiciary on the appointment of a Chief Coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), and I have discussed the appointment of a Chief Coroner with the Lord Chief Justice in recent weeks. We have not, however, had any discussions with ministerial colleagues on this issue.

Chief Coroner

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  when he expects (a) to announce the appointment of a Chief Coroner and (b) the Chief Coroner to take-up his or her post;
	(2)  when he plans to announce who will be appointed as a Chief Coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Lord Chief Justice is responsible for appointing the Chief Coroner under schedule 8 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. We are continuing to discuss this matter, including timescales, with the Lord Chief Justice.

Chief Coroner

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to meet bereavement organisations to discuss the appointment of a Chief Coroner; and when such meetings will take place.

Jonathan Djanogly: Ministry of Justice officials plan to meet bereavement organisations in the new year to discuss implementation of the coroner reforms in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. However, under schedule 8 to the Act, the appointment of the Chief Coroner is a matter for the Lord Chief Justice, following consultation with the Lord Chancellor.

Chief Coroner

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he proposes that the Chief Coroner will be a High Court judge.

Jonathan Djanogly: Under Schedule 8 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 the Chief Coroner must be either a High Court judge or a Circuit judge. Appointment of the Chief Coroner is, however, a matter for the Lord Chief Justice, following consultation with the Lord Chancellor.

Civil Justice Council

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice under what categories of expenditure he expects the Civil Justice Counsel to make savings in 2011-12 relative to its budget in 2010-11.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Civil Justice Council has reduced its staff costs by moving to a joint secretariat with the Family Justice Council. Overall, this has resulted in two fewer posts, relative to 2010-11. The Civil Justice Council has reduced its non-staff running costs by 23% in 2011-12 when compared with 2010-11.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many awards the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has made showing the number of awards in bands of £25,000.

Jonathan Djanogly: Figures covering cases resolved in the period 14 June 2010 to 14 December 2011 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Awards paid 
			 Band Number 
			 £0 to £25,000 48,338 
			 £25,001 to £50,000 577 
			 £50,001 to £75,000 197 
			 £75,001 to £100,000 132 
			 £100,001 to £125,000 84 
			 £125,001 to £150,000 59 
			 £150,001 to £175,000 36 
			 £175,001 to £200,000 22 
			 £200,001 to £225,000 24 
			 £225,001 to £250,000 18 
			 £250,001 to £275,000 15 
			 £275,001 to £300,000 19 
			 £300,001 to £325,000 9 
			 £325,001 to £350,000 15 
			 £350,001 to £375,000 14 
		
	
	
		
			 £375,001 to £400,000 6 
			 £400,001 to £425,000 8 
			 £425,001 to £450,000 5 
			 £450,001 to £475,000 4 
			 £475,001 to £500,000 60

Departmental Catering

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: The amount spent by the Department on food purchased through its food and catering services during 2010-11 is given in the following table. From 2010, the Department has restricted catering for internal and external meetings, including in our arm's length bodies.
	The following restrictions apply to all departmental staff:
	No lunches, tea or coffees can be ordered for any internal meeting.
	For external meetings, catering procurement requires director-level sign-off and are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.
	
		
			 2010-11 
			  £000 
			 Ministry of Justice HQ(1) 420 
			 Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service(2) 5,376 
			 National Offender Management Service(3) 60,957 
			 Office for the Public Guardian 2 
			 Total 66,755 
			 (1) MOJ HQ—Catering costs for external meetings (i.e. including visitors/attendees external to the organisation) and staff training courses. (2) HMCTS—In addition to catering costs for external meetings and staff training courses, the figures also include the cost of catering for judiciary and jurors. (3) NOMS—The cost of food is in respect of public sector prisons, and almost entirely relates to the cost of providing food to the prison population in England and Wales. It does not include any associated costs such as contracted catering services, staff and prisoner labour and training costs, the purchase of kitchen and servery facilities, utilities and other overheads. These figures also include a minor element for the cost of external meetings and staff training courses.

Departmental Manpower

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many full-time equivalent staff were employed (a) in the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, (b) as an Assessor for Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice, (c) on the Civil Justice Council, (d) on the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, (e) on the Criminal Cases Review Commission, (f) on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, (g) on the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee, (h) on the Crown Court Rule Committee, (i) on the Family Justice Council, (j) on the Family Procedure Rule Committee, (k) in the HM Inspectorate of Prisons, (l) in the HM Inspectorate of Probation, (m) on the Insolvency Rules Committee, (n) on the Judicial Appointments Commission, (o) as Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman, (p) in the Judicial Office, (q) on the Law Commission, (r) on the Legal Services Board, (s) on the Legal Services Commission, (t) in the National Offender Management Service, (u) in the Probation Service, (v) in the Court Funds Office, (w) in the Office of the Information Commissioner, (x) in the Office for Judicial Complaints, (y) as Legal Ombudsman, (z) in the Office of the Public Guardian, (aa) as an Official Solicitor and Public Trustee, (ab) on the Parole Board, (ac) as a Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, (ad) on the Sentencing Council, (ae) on the Tribunal procedure Committee, (af) as a Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses and (ag) on the Youth Justice Board on (i) 1 May 2010 and (ii) 1 November 2011.

Kenneth Clarke: The following table provides details of the numbers of full-time equivalent staff employed within the requested organisations:
	
		
			  Civil servants Public servants 
			  30 April 2010 31 August 2011 30 April 2010 31 August 2011 
			 Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council 9.00 7.80 — — 
			 Assessor for Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice — — n/a 0 
			 Civil Justice Council 4.00 7.00 n/a 0 
			 Civil Procedure Rule Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) — — (1)n/a 66.24 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) (2)114.88 363.82 — — 
			 Criminal Procedure Rule Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Crown Court Rule Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Family Justice Council 4.00 1.00 — — 
			 Family Rule Procedure Committee — — n/a 0 
			 HM Inspectorate of Prisons 35.42 36.13 — — 
			 HM Inspectorate of Probation 41.82 34.92 — — 
			 Insolvency Rules Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) — — (3)n/a 75.00 
			 Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman 9.36 8.38 — — 
			 Judicial Office 124.66 (4)139.20 — — 
			 Law Commission 50.10 40.31 — — 
			 Legal Services Board (LSB) — — (5)n/a 32.70 
			 Legal Services Commission (LSC) — — (4)n/a 1,414.60 
			 National Offender Management Service (NOMS) 49,144.92 (7)45,719.53 — — 
			 Probation Service (35 Trusts) — — (8)n/a 18,156.00 
			 Court Funds Office 129.18 86.29 — — 
			 Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) — — (9)n/a 322.79 
			 Office for Judicial Complaints 15.00 14.80 — — 
			 Legal Ombudsman — — (10)6.00 (10)8.00 
			 Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) 395.49 (11)436.07 — — 
			 Official Solicitor and Public Trustee 113.89 125.67 — — 
			 Parole Board — — (12)n/a 93.00 
		
	
	
		
			 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 104.54 95.29 — — 
			 Sentencing Council 10.78 14.83 — — 
			 Tribunal Procedure Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses — — n/a 0 
			 Youth Justice Board (YJB) — — (13)N/A 216.86 
			 n/a = information for this date is not available because it is not held centrally. Where possible alternative data is provided as a footnote. (1) CCRC data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 81. (2) For 30 April 2010 the Ministry holds only the numbers of CICA staff employed within the Ministry. The data for 31 August 2011 includes CICA staff within the Scottish Government. However, on 31 March 2010, the total number of CICA staff (including those within the Scottish Government was 370). (3) JAC data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 98. (4) The increase in Judicial Office staff was the result of a restructure exercise, where staff from MOJ HQ assigned to Judicial Office duties were transferred to the Judicial Office. (5) LSB data are available for 30 June 2010. Total staff was 32.6. (6) LSC data are available for 30 June 2010. Total staff was 1,437.9. (7) The change in staff numbers in NOMS also reflects a transfer of 1,200 NOMS HQ staff to MOJ HQ. (8) Probation Service data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 20,440. (9) OIC data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 313. (10) Includes chief ombudsman. Two ombudsman were recruited to vacancies in June 2010. (11) The OPG office is being relocated to Birmingham and in the transition period covering the move there is an overlap where staff have been recruited in Birmingham before staff in London are released. (12) Parole Board data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 95. (13) YJB data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 272. Note: Information is available for executive non-departmental public bodies (CCRC, CICA, JAC, LSC, LSB, Parole Board and YJB) as at 30 June 2010 and at 31 March 2011 as part of the transparency agenda and can be accessed at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/transparency-data/senior-civil-service-salaries-and-organograms.htm

Domestic Violence: Crime Prevention

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many restraining orders have been made under section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 following (a) sentence and (b) acquittal for any offence in each of the last five years;
	(2)  in how many cases a restraining order under section 12 of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004 has been made following an application by a victim since September 2009.

Crispin Blunt: On 30 September 2009, section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 amended section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to allow a restraining order to be granted following conviction for any offence and even where a defendant is acquitted.
	The number of restraining orders issued under sections 5 (following conviction) and 5A (following acquittal) of the Protection from Harassment Act from 2006 to 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.
	Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not include all the details of the circumstances associated with each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is therefore not possible to separately identify those restraining orders issued as a result of an application by a victim from those issued under other circumstances.
	
		
			 Restraining orders issued at all courts in England and Wales under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in each year between 2006 and 2010 
			 Disposal 2006 2007 2008  (1) 2009 2010 
			 Restraining order issued under:      
			 Section 5 (issued following conviction)(2) 2,722 2,631 3,081 5,073 10,094 
			 Section 5A (issued following acquittal)(3) n/a n/a n/a — 647 
			 n/a = Not applicable (1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (2) On 30 September 2009, section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 came into force. This provision amended section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. This amendment enables the court to impose a restraining order In a much wider range of circumstances than previously. Under these rules, restraining orders can be granted following conviction for any offence. (3) On 30 September 2009. section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 came into force. This added an additional provision (section 5A), which allows a court to Impose a restraining order on acquittal if it considers it necessary to protect a person from harassment by the defendant. Notes: 1. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is Imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected Is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Employment Tribunals Service

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases of (a) an unpaid employment tribunal award and (b) an unpaid ACAS settlement have been passed to High Court enforcement officers under the ACAS and Employment Tribunal Fast Track enforcement mechanism since its introduction; and in how many such cases the unpaid award or settlement was (i) fully, (ii) partially and (iii) not recovered.

Jonathan Djanogly: 2,072 unpaid employment tribunal awards and 210 unpaid ACAS settlements have been passed to High Court enforcement officers under the ACAS and Employment Tribunal Fast Track since its commencement on 6 April 2010
	The fast track is operated by the High Court Enforcement Officers Association and as such they are responsible for collation of performance data. The data requested are not segregated from other types of High Court enforcement and will require a specific collection exercise, which will be concluded by 31 January 2012. Thereafter I will write to you with the details.

Inquiries Act 2005

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the Restriction Order made by the Chairman of the Leverson Inquiry on 28 November 2011, if he will assess the effectiveness of the operation of section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have noted Lord Justice Leveson's ruling of 28 November 2011, but there are no plans to assess the effectiveness of section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005. The Ministry of Justice conducted post-legislative scrutiny of the Inquiries Act 2005 in 2010 and the memorandum submitted to the Justice Select Committee in October 2010 concluded that the measures introduced by the Inquiries Act 2005 had achieved the objectives of the legislation and the Justice Select Committee did not request full post-legislative scrutiny of the Act.

Police: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness among police officers and prison staff.

Jonathan Djanogly: As a Department, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is working to embed equality and diversity as a part of everyday business. As an employer the MOJ is committed to ensuring that our policies are fair and accessible to all, and as a provider of services, that this is done so in a way that meets the aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty (Equality Act, 2010).
	Police officers are not the responsibility of the MOJ. The Home Office has advised that the Initial Police Learning Programme addresses the needs of individuals who have communication difficulties. Further training available includes guidance and information for officers dealing with people who are hearing impaired and who have hearing disabilities.
	In respect of prison staff, there is not a separate specific policy on deaf awareness; rather this is encompassed in wider considerations on disabilities more generally. These include Prison Service and agency instructions on ensuring equality of treatment for staff and on our duties as a public authority. We have also launched a disability staff support network and there is an Equalities Group intranet site containing a suite of information and guidance around equality and diversity that can be accessed by managers and staff in NOMS HQ and public sector prisons.
	Through local monitoring, prison establishments and HQ groups must determine which interventions or adjustments are best suited to meet their particular needs in respect of staff and prisoners with disabilities. An example of this can be found at HMP Whatton, where there are staff who have been fully trained in British Sign Language (BSL) and so, are able to assist prisoners who are deaf and able to sign.

Witnesses

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many witnesses were called to give evidence in (a) magistrates' courts and (b) Crown courts in each year from 1997 to 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: Information about the total number of witnesses called to give evidence in the magistrates courts and Crown court is not held centrally, as it is not recorded by court staff electronically as part of their routine daily administrative duties.

Alcoholic Drinks: Ex-servicemen

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of alcohol abuse amongst military veterans.

Simon Burns: The requested information is not collected centrally. However, according to Dr Nicola Fear, Dr Dan Wood and Professor Simon Wessely in their 2009 report 'Health and Social Outcomes and Health Experiences of UK Military Veterans' (Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health/The Kings' Centre for Military Health Research November 2009), alcohol problems feature among the most common mental health problems for ex-service personnel, along with depression and anxiety disorders. For serving and ex-service personnel, the prevalence of hazardous drinking is far higher than in the general population.
	The Department is doing much to improve mental health outcomes for veterans, following the publication of Dr Andrew Murrison's report 'Fighting Fit' in October 2010. The Department contributed £7.2 million to the implementation of the recommendations coming out of this report. One of the key features of the work completed to date is the launch of integrated veterans' mental health services in each of the 10 existing strategic health authority areas. These have a holistic focus on mental health, and contributing factors, including alcohol and substance abuse. They are up and running in the North and South-West, and roll-out will continue to the end of the current financial year.

Alcoholic Drinks: Obesity

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) males and (b) females under the age of 18 have been treated for (i) alcohol-induced and (ii) obesity-induced illness in NHS hospitals (A) since 1 January 2011 and (B) in the equivalent period in 2010.

Anne Milton: Provisional figures show that the estimated number of males under the age of 18 that have been treated for alcohol-induced illness in national health service hospitals since 1 January 2011 was 3,579 and in the equivalent period in 2010 (January 2010 - August 2010) was 3,859.
	The estimated number of females under the age of 18 that have been treated for alcohol-induced illness in national health service hospitals since 1 January 2011 is 4,393 and in the equivalent period in 2010 (January 2010 - August 2010) was 4,746.
	The estimated number of males under the age of 18 that have been treated for obesity-induced illness in national health service hospitals since 1 January 2001 is 193 and in the equivalent period in 2010 (January 2010 - August 2010) was 208.
	The estimated number of females under the age of 18 that have been treated for obesity-induced illness in national health service hospitals since 1 January 2011 is 228 and in the equivalent period in 2010 (January 2010 - August 2010) was 258.
	This is shown in the following table. The data in the table should not be described as a count of people, as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion.
	
		
			 Count of alcohol-related admissions  (1)   and admissions  (2)   with a primary diagnosis  (3)   of Obesity, for people aged Under 18  (4)  , by gender, for the period January 2010—August 2010 and January 2011—August 2011  (5)   (Data from April-August 2011 is provisional  (6)  —Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  January-March 2010 April-August 2010 Total January-March 2011 April-August 2011 (Provisional) Total 
			 Alcohol attributable fractions:       
			 Male 1,350 2,509 3,859 1,330 2,250 3,579 
			 Female 1,766 2,980 4,746 1,710 2,683 4,393 
			        
			 Obesity:       
			 Male 77 131 208 72 121 193 
			 Female 111 147 258 88 140 228 
			 (1) Alcohol-related admissions. The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. Further information on these proportions can be found at: http://www.nwph.net/nwpho/publications/AlcoholAttributableFractions.pdf The application of the NWPHO methodology has recently been updated and is now available directly from Hospital Episode Statistics. As such, information about episodes estimated to be alcohol related may be slightly different from previously published data. (2) Finished admission episodes. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (3) Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. ICD-10 codes used: E66: Obesity (4) Age The attributable fractions are not applicable to children under 16. Therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly-attributable admissions, where the attributable fraction is one. (5) Provisional data: The data is provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, ie November from the (month nine) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. (6) Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Note: Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Benzodiazepines

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many products containing benzodiazepines are licensed for use; what their names are; how many companies hold licences for the manufacture or distribution of each product; and how many of those licences were issued in each of the last three years.

Simon Burns: There are currently 87 products authorised in the United Kingdom containing benzodiazepines. There are 25 different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them. Details are provided in the following table for each benzodiazepine. No new marketing authorisations for benzodiazepines have been issued in the last three years.
	
		
			 Drug substance Authorisation holder company Licensed product name 
			 Alprazolam Pharmacia Limited Xanax tablets 250 micrograms 
			 Alprazolam Pharmacia Limited Xanax tablets 500 micrograms 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Athlone Laboratories Limited Chlordiaz Epoxide 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Athlone Laboratories Limited Chlordiazepoxide 10mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Ranbaxy Ireland Limited Chlordiazepoxide capsules BP 10mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Dr Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg film-coated tablets 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Dr Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 10mg film-coated tablets 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Dr Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 10mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Dr Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Meda Pharmaceuticals Limited Librium 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Meda Pharmaceuticals Limited Librium 10mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Chlordiazepoxide.10mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Crescent Pharma Limited Chlordiazepoxide capsules BP 5mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Crescent Pharma Limited Chlordiazepoxide capsules BP 10mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride . Chelonia Healthcare Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Chelonia Healthcare Limited Chlordiazepoxide capsules 10mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Chelonia Healthcare Limited Tropium tablets 5mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Chelonia Healthcare Limited Tropium tablets 10mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Genethics (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg tablets 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Genethics (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 10mg tablets 
			 Clobazam Aventis Pharma Limited Frisium tablets 10mg 
			 Clobazam Auden Mckenzie Limited Clobazam 10mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Actavis UK Limited Diazepam tablets BP 2mg 
			 Diazepam Actavis UK Limited Diazepam tablets BP 5mg 
			 Diazepam Actavis UK Limited Diazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Diazepam Actavis UK Limited Diazepam oral solution BP 2mg/5ml 
			 Diazepam Hameln Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam injection BP 
			 Diazepam Sandoz Limited Diazepam syrup 2mg/5ml 
			 Diazepam Sandoz Limited Diazepam rectal tubes 5mg 
			 Diazepam Sandoz Limited Diazepam rectal tubes 10mg 
			 Diazepam Pharmvit Limited Diazepam tablets 2mg BP 
			 Diazepam Pharmvit Limited Diazepam tablets 5mg BP. 
			 Diazepam Pharmvit Limited Diazepam tablets 10mg BP 
			 Diazepam Generics (UK) Limited Diazepam tablets BP 2mg 
			 Diazepam Generics (UK) Limited Diazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Diazepam Waymade plc Diazepam 2mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Waymade plc Diazepam 5mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Waymade plc Diazepam 10mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Ranbaxy Ireland Limited Diazepam tablets BP. 2mg 
			 Diazepam Ranbaxy Ireland Limited Diazepam tablets BP 5mg 
			 Diazepam Ranbaxy Ireland Limited Diazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Diazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam 2mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam 5mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam 10mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Relonchem Limited Diazepam 5mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Crescent Pharma Limited Diazepam tablets BP 2mg 
			 Diazepam Crescent Pharma Limited Diazepam tablets BP 5mg 
			 Diazepam Crescent Pharma Limited Diazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam 5mg/ml solution for injection 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam Rectubes 10mg rectal solution 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam Rectubes 2.5mg rectal solution 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam Rectubes 5mg rectal solution 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam Rectubes 20mg 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam 10mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK. Limited Diazepam 5mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam 2mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Athlone Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam tablets BP 5mg 
			 Diazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Diazepam 2mg 
		
	
	
		
			 Diazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Diazepam 5mg 
			 Diazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Diazepam 10mg 
			 Diazepam FOURRTS (UK) Pharmacare Limited Diazepam 5mg tablets BP 
			 Dipotassium Clorazepate Boehringer Ingelheim Limited Tranxene 3.5mg capsules 
			 Dipotassium Clorazepate Boehringer Ingelheim Limited Tranxene 7.5mg capsules 
			 Dipotassium Clorazepate Boehringer Ingelheim Limited Tranxene 15mg capsules 
			 Lorazepam Norton Healthcare Limited Lorazepam tablets BP 1 mg 
			 Lorazepam Norton Healthcare Limited Lorazepam tablets BP 2.5 mg 
			 Lorazepam Sandoz Limited Lorazepam tablet BP 1 mg 
			 Lorazepam Sandoz Limited Lorazepam tablet BP 2.5 mg 
			 Lorazepam Pharmvit Limited Lorazepam tablets 1mg 
			 Lorazepam Pharmvit Limited Lorazepam tablets 2.5mg 
			 Lorazepam Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Limited . Lorazepam 1mg tablets 
			 Lorazepam . Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Limited Lorazepam 2.5mg tablets 
			 Lorazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Lorazepam 1mg tablets 
			 Lorazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Lorazepam 2.5mg tablets 
			 Lorazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Lorazium tablets 1mg 
			 Lorazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Lorazium tablets 2.5mg 
			 Oxazepam Actavis UK Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 10mg ' 
			 Oxazepam Actavis UK Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 15mg 
			 Oxazepam Generics (UK) Limited Oxazepam tablets 10mg 
			 Oxazepam Generics (UK) Limited Oxazepam tablets 15mg 
			 Oxazepam Generics (UK) Limited Oxazepam tablets 30mg 
			 Oxazepam Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Limited Oxazepam tablets 10mg 
			 Oxazepam Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Limited Oxazepam tablets 15mg 
			 Oxazepam Zecare Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Oxazepam Zecare Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 15mg 
			 Oxazepam Zecare Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 30mg

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were working in his Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011.

Simon Burns: At 11 May 2010, there were 2,594.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) civil servants working in the Department. This figure included those on loan to the Department from other Government Departments and on fixed-term contracts. At 8 December 2011 there were 2,332.5 FIT: civil servants, also including loans-in and fixed-term appointees.
	In addition, 805.4 FTE non-permanent workers (secondees-in, contractors, consultants and agency staff) were working in the Department on 11 May 2010 and 470.5 FTE non-permanent workers were in place on 8 December 2011.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diabetes specialists there are on health and well-being boards.

Paul Burstow: The Health and Social Care Bill mandates the minimum membership of health and wellbeing boards. Local authorities and boards will be free to expand their membership beyond this in a way that reflects local needs and priorities—a decision best left to local discretion.
	We expect boards to engage with a variety of partners to ensure the right expertise including clinical experts, such as diabetes specialists, influence both the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and joint health and wellbeing strategy.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when (a) he and (b) his officials next plan to raise with (i) the European Commissioner, (ii) his ministerial counterparts in other EU member states and (iii) officials in other member states his plans for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive;
	(2)  when he last discussed with the European Commission his plans for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; and what response he received;
	(3)  when his plans are for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; and whether he plans to seek to repatriate to the UK competence for legislation in this area.

Anne Milton: I last met with European Commissioner for Health, John Dalli on 19 November 2010, to discuss United Kingdom concerns about the setting maximum limits for food supplements.
	I pressed for any future changes to the legislation to be based on scientific evidence of risk and not be unduly restrictive, so that the impact on UK industry is minimised, while maintaining consumer choice. Commissioner Dalli has confirmed that he recognises the UK's concerns and will take this into account in developing proposals.
	The Commission has yet to indicate when negotiations on this issue will recommence and further to earlier discussions we have no immediate plans to pursue this formally, although informal discussions may occasionally arise at meetings in Europe. The setting of maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements is an area of EU competency, as such the UK is legally bound to implement legislation agreed by a majority of member states.

Health Professions: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness amongst (a) staff in care homes and (b) doctors, nurses and hospital staff.

Paul Burstow: Health and social care services delivering support to people with disabilities have to ensure that they are fully compliant with the law, especially the Equality Act 2010. The general public sector equality duty in s149 of the Equality Act 2010 requires public authorities to pay due regard to eliminating discrimination and advancing equality, of opportunity including making reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of the disabled people who use their services. An example of how national health service organisations are tackling this is the Equality Delivery System (EDS) which enables NHS organisations, working with local partners, to analyse their performance, and set equality objectives as part of mainstream business plans. The EDS includes examples of reasonable adjustments for people who are deaf.

Hospitals: Young People

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under the age of 18 years have been treated by NHS hospitals in 2011 up to the most recent date for which information is available; and what the equivalent figure is for the same period in 2010.

Anne Milton: The information requested is shown in the following tables. Information on finished admission episodes April to August 2011 and accident and emergency (A and E) attendances April 2010 to August 2011 is provisional.
	
		
			 Finished admission episodes  (1)   for under-18s in NHS hospitals  (2)   in 2010 and 2011 
			  Number 
			 2010  
			 January 164,250 
			 February 163,749 
			 March 189,185 
			 April 169,967 
			 May 173,559 
			 June 170,483 
			 July 175,398 
			 August 162,171 
			 Total 1,368,762 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 176,231 
			 February 170,387 
			 March 191,351 
			 April 169,388 
			 May 171,610 
			 June 172,128 
			 July 173,410 
			 August 163,562 
			 Total 1,388,067 
			 (1) A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). Normally, if data is tabulated by health care provider, the figure for an NHS trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. The quality of TC returns are such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. Note: The data is provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			 A and E attendances for under-18s in NHS hospitals  (1)   in 2010 and 2011 
			  Number 
			 2010  
			 January 255,455 
			 February 264,497 
			 March 357,987 
			 April 340,627 
			 May 373,669 
			 June 345,111 
			 July 343,501 
			 August 274,610 
			 Total 2,555,457 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 305,114 
			 February 303,798 
			 March 388,830 
			 April 362,079 
			 May 363,812 
			 June 333,518 
			 July 342,505 
			 August 279,636 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 2,679,292 
			 (1) Hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). Normally, if data is tabulated by health care provider, the figure for an NHS trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. The quality of TC returns are such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. Note: The data is provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Lung Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of (a) the existence of a gap in outcomes in cases of lung cancer between England and other Western European countries and (b) the reasons for any such gap.

Paul Burstow: We know England's cancer survival rates are currently poorer than many comparable countries. To understand more about the reasons for the differences in survival rates between England and other comparable countries, we have established the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP). The ICBP seeks to understand how and why cancer survival rates, vary between countries and jurisdictions.
	Membership of the ICBP covers 12 jurisdictions in six countries comprising Australia (New South Wales and Victoria); Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario); Denmark; Norway; Sweden; and the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland and Wales). To ensure the validity and comparability of data between countries, ICBP partners were invited on the basis of broadly comparable wealth, universal access to health care and the existence of longstanding, high-quality, population-based cancer registration.
	Lung cancer is one the four cancers we are looking at as part of the study. In December 2010, the ICBP published “Cancer survival in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK, 1995-2007 (the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership): an analysis of population-based cancer registry data”. The report showed that survival has continued to improve for each cancer in all six countries, but generally remained higher in Australia, Canada, and Sweden, intermediate in Norway, and lower in Denmark and the UK. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library.
	The following table summarises England's survival rates for 2005-07, alongside those of the best performing country or jurisdiction.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			 Cancer England Sweden Leading jurisdiction Gap to leading jurisdiction 
			 Lung cancer (1 year) 29.7 43.6 (1)43.6 13.9 
			 Lung cancer (5 year) 8.7 16.3 (2)20.1 11.4 
			 (1) Sweden (2) Manitoba Note: Analyses for 2005-07 are period estimates for patients diagnosed during 2005-07, or diagnosed earlier but alive on 1 January 2005. 
		
	
	The patterns of lower survival rates in England are consistent with later stage at diagnosis or differences in treatment. The ICBP plans to publish a report on the lung cancer survival information in the first half of 2012.

Meningitis

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued guidance to GP consortia on (a) measures to deal with meningitis and (b) provision of psychological support for patients who have lost limbs as a result of the disease.

Simon Burns: No guidance has been issued. Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the National Health Service Commissioning Board will be responsible for supporting clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), previously known as general practitioner consortia, in their commissioning decisions. This will include publishing commissioning guidance to which CCGs must have regard. This will be based on the quality standards that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has developed oh the board's behalf. The board will also develop a commissioning outcomes framework to help hold CCGs to account for the quality of the health care services they commission.

Meningitis: Plymouth

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of meningitis were diagnosed in Plymouth in the last 12 months; and how many were of people aged (a) under and (b) over 16.

Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table:
	
		
			 Count of finished admission episodes  (1)   with a primary diagnosis of Meningitis  (2)   by selected age groups in Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT)  (3)   2010-11 
			 Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 Age Count 
			 Under 16 7 
		
	
	
		
			 16 and over 21 
			 (1)  Finished admission episodes: A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2)  Primary diagnosis: The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason, why the patient was admitted to hospital. Diagnosis Codes used for Meningitis: G00.0 Haemophilus meningitis. G00.1 Pneumococcal meningitis. G00.2 Streptococcal meningitis. G00.3 Staphylococcal meningitis. G00.9 Bacterial meningitis, unspecified. G03 Meningitis due to other unspecified causes. A87 Viral Meningitis. A87.0D Enteroviral meningitis (with G02.0A) A87.1D Adenoviral meningitis (with G02.0A) A39.2 Acute meningococcaemia. A39.3 Chronic meningococcaemia. A39.4 Meningococcaemia, unspecified. A search must be performed to locate the following codes; these would not be found in the primary field. The following asterisk codes (* or A) would be found in a SECONDARY position and their presence in the coded record indicates meningitis: G01.X A Meningitis in bacterial diseases classified elsewhere. G02.0 A Meningitis in viral diseases classified elsewhere. G02.1 A Meningitis in mycoses. G02.8 A Meningitis in other specified infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere. The following two codes must be paired .together to indicate eosinophilic meningitis: B83.2 D Angiostrongyliasis due to Parastrongylus cantonensis. G05.2 A Encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis in other infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere. The ICD-10 codes required for meningococcal meningitis are: A39.0 D Meningococcal meningitis. G01.X A Meningitis in bacterial diseases classified elsewhere. (3)  Strategic Health Authority/PCT of residence: The SHA or PCT containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was. treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. This data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion. Source: HES, the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total budget allocated to the NHS was spent on children and adolescent mental health services in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Burstow: Child and adolescent mental health services are complex, ranging from universal provision to highly specialised services and are funded by both the national health service and local authorities. It is the responsibility of local commissioners to make commissioning decisions informed by a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people in their communities.
	A total of £89 billion has been made available in primary care trust (PCT) revenue allocations for 2011-12. This represents an increase of £2.6 billion in 2010-11. The available NHS expenditure figures on mental health disorders are shown in the following table. These are from estimated England level programme budgeting data, which are calculated using PCT and strategic health authority programme budgeting returns and the Department's resource accounts data. Figures also include an estimation of the Department's and special health authority expenditure.
	
		
			  Gross Expenditure (£000s) 
			 Programme Budgeting Category 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Total Expenditure on Mental Health Disorders 9,125,744 10,278,503 10,477,252 11,261,656 11,906,280 
			 Substance Misuse 716,326 832,522 926,728 987,468 1,094,819 
			 Organic Mental Disorders 752,920 768,386 878,036 1,315,233 1,511,315 
			 Psychotic Disorders 1,294,807 1,703,995 1,839,404 2,168,470 1,710,362 
			 Child and Adolescent 716,726 736,353 687,097 772,114 755,807 
			 Other Mental Health 5,644,965 6,237,247 6,145,988 6,018,371 6,833,955 
			       
			 Total Gross Expenditure 84,193,209 93,183,426 96,814,987 103,974,957 107,003,261 
		
	
	Expenditure on some services areas or activities are not included if it is not possible to make a reasonable estimation of expenditure by specific disease area. For this reason expenditure on some health care activity, including general practitioner services will be excluded from the total expenditure on mental health figures above.
	If it is not possible to separately identify expenditure on child and adolescent mental health from other mental health services then expenditure will be classified as 'other mental health'.
	Continual refinements are made to the programme budgeting data calculation methodology on an annual basis, for this reason, programme budgeting data cannot be used to analyse changes in investment in specific disease areas between years. Significant changes were made to the data collection in 2010-11, when the basis of estimation for disease specific expenditure changed from provider reference costs to the price paid for services by commissioners.

Mental Health: Ex-servicemen

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of (a) homelessness and (b) mental health problems amongst military veterans.

Simon Burns: The levels of homelessness among military veterans is not the responsibility of the Department of Health but that of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), who have provided us with the following information:
	Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns.
	Information is collected on the number of households accepted as being statutory homeless whose main reason for loss of last settled home was having left the armed forces. This will not include households containing people who have previously been in the armed forces but were made homeless for other reasons. This information was first collected in 2005-06 and is given as follows:
	
		
			 Number of h  ouseholds with reason of last settled home being having left the armed forces 
			  Number 
			 2005-06 270 
			 2006-07 200 
			 2007-08 220 
			 2008-09 160 
			 2009-10 120 
			 2010-11 150 
			 Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 10 households. Source: P1E returns 
		
	
	Information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and a summary is published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
	www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Turning to veterans' mental health, this information is not collected centrally. However, the Department of Health is doing much to improve veterans’ mental health and wellbeing, following the publication of my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison)’s report “Fighting Fit” published in October 2010. The Department has committed £7.2 million over the next four years of the spending review period to the implementation of the reports recommendations. Examples include, setting up a 24-hour veterans' helpline; the launch of an online counselling service 'Big White Wall'; and the launch of integrated veterans' mental health services in each of the existing strategic health authority areas, by the end of the current financial year.

NHS Walk-in Centres: Wythenshawe

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a decision on the referral from Manchester's Health Scrutiny Committee of the decision to close the NHS walk-in centre in Wythenshawe.

Simon Burns: Following initial advice from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel on NHS Manchester's proposals for the relocation of Wythenshawe forum, Withington and Ancoats walk in centres, the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley’s), decision was made public on 19 December 2011.

Organs: Donors

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 351W, on organs: donors, on what evidential basis he expects a 50 per cent. increase in deceased donor numbers in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The expectation of achieving the 50% increase in donor rates by 2013 is based on latest available figures showing that deceased donor numbers have increased by 31.4% against the 2007-08 baseline. We are on target to achieve a 35% increase by March 2012 and a 50% increase by the following year as it is expected that there will be even greater increments in the last year. The appointment of Chris Rudge to chair a Transitional Steering Group pending the introduction of the new Commissioning Board will also help maintain the momentum of improvement focusing action on increasing consent rates, encouraging deceased donation in all appropriate circumstances and increasing donation from emergency medicine.

Prescription Drugs

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that counterfeit medications do not enter the NHS supply chain; and what effects such medications have had on the pharmaceutical industry.

Simon Burns: Counterfeit medicines rarely reach patients through the regulated supply chain and are more commonly available to consumers via unregulated websites. Although no fatalities have been attributed to counterfeit medicine in the United Kingdom, it is acknowledged that all counterfeit medicines are dangerous and pose a risk to patient health.
	In response, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for regulation of medicines for human use and medical devices has developed and implemented a comprehensive Anti-Counterfeiting Strategy to combat the threat posed by the infiltration of counterfeit medicines and devices into the UK market.
	A number of public awareness campaigns have been delivered, both by MHRA and also by MHRA in conjunction with other stakeholders such as the General Pharmaceutical Council and patient groups.
	The MHRA monitors the internet for websites operating within the UK supplying medicines illegally, makes test purchases from these sites and, as a result, has successfully prosecuted a number of individuals. All referrals involving suspected counterfeit medicines are investigated thoroughly and necessary action is taken to protect public health. Enforcement activity is closely co-ordinated with other enforcement authorities around the world and MHRA regularly engages in international initiatives to tackle this issue.
	The MHRA also chairs an anti-counterfeit stakeholders group, with representatives from, among others, UK police forces, regulators and industry, where intelligence concerning counterfeit medicines is regularly reviewed and assessed.
	New requirements for wholesalers and distributors of medicines will be introduced by the Falsified Medicines Directive in January 2013. Further proposals affecting the pharmaceutical industry are being considered as part of the UK Supply Chain review.

Skin Cancer

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to raise the awareness of (a) GPs and (b) the public of the dangers posed by non-melanoma skin cancers that can be caused by regular exposure to the sun;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the importance of people having regular skin checks.

Paul Burstow: In 2011-12, to provide information and advice to the public and health professionals, we have funded SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention campaign. SunSmart activities have included producing and distributing educational materials, organising a schools campaign, providing support to local providers working on skin cancer prevention and a major targeted marketing campaign in conjunction with a popular music festival.
	The SunSmart website also provides additional information about how to reduce your risk of skin cancer as well as how to spot the symptoms of the disease at:
	www.sunsmart.org.uk
	Information on the causes of non-melanoma and malignant melanoma can also be found on the NHS Choices website at:
	www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-skin/Pages/Causes.aspx
	and at:
	www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malignant-melanoma/Pages/Causes.aspx
	Cancer Research UK is currently running ‘R UV Ugly’, a campaign funded by a Third Sector Investment Programme grant from the Department, to raise awareness of the dangers of sunbeds and the benefits of skin checks. The campaign is being run in partnership with SK:n who provide free ultraviolet scans in their clinics across England.
	We have provided a further Third Sector Investment Programme grant to Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists to develop a toolkit to provide practical online support and training to help general practitioners (GPs) with pattern recognition for skin lesions. The toolkit will be piloted in early 2012 before a planned national roll-out and is being developed in consultation with an expert advisory group consisting of GPs and dermatologists.
	As part of our programme of work to deliver earlier diagnosis of cancer, to improve survival rates, a range of actions has been undertaken to support GPs in referring appropriate patients to secondary care. We are also in the process of considering further possible action to improve the public's awareness of the symptoms of the less common cancers.
	The Department has also published implementation guidance for local authorities on the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 and information for Sunbed Businesses. The purpose of the Act is to prevent those under 18 years from being allowed to use sunbeds in commercial premises.

Economic and Monetary Union

Wayne David: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 27 October on the eurozone crisis, what he means by greater fiscal integration in the eurozone.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), and the Prime Minister, have been clear in their view that euro area countries need to accept the remorseless logic of monetary union that leads from a single currency to greater fiscal integration, to ensure that fiscal responsibility is hard-wired into the system.
	In their statement of 9 December, the euro area agreed that there should be tighter fiscal discipline as part of restoring market confidence, including tough new budgetary rules, more automatic sanctions, and stricter surveillance. The UK has made clear that, while it supports the euro area's intention to countries to come together to resolve their problems, we will only allow that to happen inside the European Union treaties if there are proper protections for the single market and for other key British interests.

Financial Services Bill

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the draft memorandum of understanding between each of the bodies in the UK regulatory structure proposed in the provisions of the draft Financial Services Bill.

Mark Hoban: The draft Financial Services Bill, published in June, provides for a number of different statutory memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The Government intend to make drafts of these MOUs available during the passage of the Bill in order to aid Parliament's scrutiny of the draft legislation.
	As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), explained to the Joint Committee on the Draft Bill on 15 November 2011, before publishing a draft of the crisis management MOU between the Treasury and the Bank of England, the Government will consider:
	first, the recommendations of the Treasury Select Committee in its report into the accountability of the Bank of England (published on 8 November); and
	second, any relevant recommendations made by the Joint Committee itself in its report published on 19 December.

Members: Correspondence

Paul Maynard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys.

David Gauke: HM Treasury had no record of a letter from the hon. Member of 12 October 2011. My officials have now obtained a copy from the hon. Member's office and I shall reply shortly.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representatives from (a) HM Revenue and Customs, (b) the Department for Work and Pensions and (c) other bodies will sit on the monitoring body for the pilot from April 2012 of real-time PAYE information; and who will decide whether the pilot should be extended.

David Gauke: holding answer 13 December 2011
	Around 300 volunteer software developers, employers and pension providers are taking part in the real time information (RTI) pilot which will start in April 2012. Depending on the findings from the pilot's early stages, an additional 1,300 volunteers will join in July.
	Another 250,000 employers could then be invited to start using the system in November.
	Ultimately, it will be for the RTI programme's senior responsible owner (SRO), in close consultation with industry, to decide at each stage whether or not the pilot should be extended. There is a specific governance mechanism in place to support the SRO in making these decisions. This group includes membership from the Department for Work and Pensions' universal credit programme office and key business areas from within HM Revenue and Customs as well as representatives from HMRC's IT partners, Aspire and Vocalink.
	The RTI programme as a whole has a number of governance and assurance forums, including a senior level programme board, which advise the SRO. Membership of these groups is drawn from the broad range of stakeholders affected by RTI.

Poverty: Rural Areas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of levels of rural poverty since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government publish annual data on poverty including in English rural areas. The latest data released on rural poverty covers 2009-10 and is available in the “Statistical Digest of Rural England 2011” published on DEFRA’s website in September 2011 at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13641-rural-digest2011.pdf
	Poverty in the UK’s rural areas outside England is a matter for the devolved Administrations.

Revenue and Customs: Email

Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Revenue and Customs expects to be able to answer all taxpayers' queries by email.

David Gauke: HMRC has over 100 electronic contact services available to customers that offer a structured and secure means of communicating with HMRC through its website and we are always looking to provide more. HMRC will only introduce electronic contact solutions where we are certain about the authenticity of the person sending the e-mail and where there are strong controls around the data being sent.
	HMRC have recently consulted (http://hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/) on making an email address a required element of a business's designatory information. We are currently analysing views and expect to formally publish results and HMRC's response early in the new year.

Electricity: Prices

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) likely and (b) maximum possible effect on the average household electricity bill by 2020 of not implementing the reductions to feed-in tariffs for (i) small-scale solar PV proposed in the comprehensive review and (ii) large-scale solar PV introduced after the fast track review.

Gregory Barker: Based on analysis undertaken at the time of the Fast Track Review, we have estimated that not implementing the changes to tariffs for large scale (greater than 50 kW) solar PV in the fast track review would have added approximately £10 (2010 prices, undiscounted) to the average domestic energy bill in 2020. This is based on the estimate of the cost to consumers under the 'Do Nothing' option in the Fast Track Review impact assessment:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/fits-review/fast-track-review-announcement-impact-assessment.pdf
	As well as proposing new tariffs for small scale solar PV, the comprehensive review has also proposed further reductions to tariffs for large scale PV. In the impact assessment for the most recent consultation:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
	we estimated that under the 'no change' scenario and central growth rates, the impact on the average domestic energy bill would be around £26 in 2020 (2010 prices undiscounted).
	We have revised this estimate in the light of much higher observed growth in PV since the impact assessment to around £40 (2010 prices, undiscounted) in a central uptake scenario, and around £80 (2010 prices, undiscounted) in a high uptake scenario. It should be noted that these estimates represent the impact on bills of both large and small scale PV installations, as we have not separated their respective impacts.
	Estimates of future PV growth are extremely uncertain. DECC is continually reviewing its evidence in the light of latest data, and will update estimates for the final impact assessment.

Energy: Private Rented Housing

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to provide any additional financial support to private sector tenants whose landlords have carried out the maximum package of measures funded under the Green Deal or Energy Company Obligation, but continue to be classified as being in fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: The consultation on the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation is currently under way.
	The Warm Home Discount scheme, requires energy suppliers to provide low income vulnerable households with discounts on their electricity bills. Through the scheme pensioners, including those in rented accommodation, who pay their own electricity bill with a participating energy supply company, and meet the eligibility criteria outlined as follows, may be eligible for the discount.
	
		
			 Scheme year Eligibility £ 
			 2011-12 In receipt of pension credit guarantee credit only (i.e. no savings credit) 120 
			    
			 2012-13 In receipt of pension credit guarantee credit only 130 
			  80 and over and in receipt of both pension credit guarantee credit and savings credit.  
			    
			 2013-14 In receipt of pension credit guarantee credit only 135 
			  75 and over and in receipt of both pension credit guarantee credit and savings credit  
			    
			 2014-15 All in receipt of pension credit guarantee credit. (only those in receipt of savings credit only are excluded) 140 
		
	
	Other low income vulnerable households may also be assisted through the scheme. The scheme will be worth £1.1 billion up to 2014-15 and overall we expect 2 million low income vulnerable households a year to be assisted through the Warm Home Discount scheme.

Energy: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what support he is providing for renewable energy schemes in Welsh waters.

Charles Hendry: Renewable energy schemes in Welsh waters are eligible for support under the renewables obligation (RO). The RO is currently the Government's main mechanism for incentivising the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity in England and Wales. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), on behalf of the UK Government, is currently consulting in England and Wales on subsidy levels for the period 2013 to 2017. The public consultation proposes an increase in the rate of support for wave and tidal stream technologies, from two to five renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) per megawatt hour of renewable electricity generated, and a higher rate of support for offshore wind projects (two ROCs in 2014-15, reducing to 1.8 ROCs in 2016-17) than would be the case without the current banding review. The public consultation closes on 12 January 2012. A copy of the consultation proposals are available on DECC's website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_ro_review/cons_ro_review.aspx
	DECC has recently announced up to £30 million for innovation in offshore wind technologies, and up to £20 million for marine energy, subject to final value for money assessments. These will be UK wide calls and Welsh projects will be eligible to apply.

Green Deal Scheme

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether people who incorporate microgeneration in their Green Deal packages can participate in the (a) Renewable Heat Incentive and (b) Feed-in Tariff schemes.

Gregory Barker: We have designed the Green Deal as a long term framework to support cost-effective energy efficiency measures, including Microgeneration. However, at present these measures are less cost effective than other measures, such as insulation, so we are supporting them through the Feed-in Tariff (FITs) and planned Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) instead.
	Microgeneration measures can be recommended in an assessment and installed at the same time as a Green Deal, but if the FIT or RHI are claimed then these cannot be included in a Green Deal financing plan.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from which budget he plans to fund incentives to householders to take up the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: As announced in the Autumn Statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, £200 million of capital funds have been allocated to DECC to support and incentivise Green Deal take-up. These funds are a time-limited addition to DECC's DEL settlement.

Renewable Energy

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the aim of generating 30 per cent. of domestic electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Gregory Barker: The UK has a binding target under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009 to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources across the electricity, heat and transport sectors by 2020. We envisage that in order to meet this target we will need to deliver 30% of our electricity from renewable sources in 2020.
	In 2011 Q2, renewable electricity generation (excluding non-biodegradable wastes) contributed 9.3% of total UK electricity generation—an increase of 3.2 percentage points on the share in 2010 Q2, and the highest quarterly share yet(1).
	(1) Source:
	Energy Trends online table 7.1
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/viewfile.ashx?filetype=4&filepath=Statistics/source/renewables/et7_1.xls&minwidth=true

Cybercrime

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether there are network security measures similar to those used by the armed forces in place to protect (a) businesses and (b) individual internet users from cyber infrastructure attacks.

Francis Maude: The Government have a wide ranging set of measures in place to protect the UK against cyber attacks. Our new national Cyber Security Strategy published in November:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cyber-security-strategy
	sets out our plans for how we will work with industry to improve the UK's cyber security and build confidence by creating a more secure and resilient cyberspace.
	The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) provides advice on electronic and cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure (CNI), including public utilities companies and financial centres. This advice includes measures relating to network security.
	The Cyber Security Strategy set out some of the ways CPNI is working to increase its reach beyond this network to companies not ordinarily considered to be part of the CNI.
	There are also a number of measures in place to protect individual internet users. Internet service providers (ISPs) offer free security software, security information and advice to customers, and the Government have committed to work closely with ISPs to better embed security awareness and software within their services.
	The Government also supports Get Safe Online, a joint Government/industry initiative to raise awareness of internet security.
	The majority of threats can be avoided by following some simple measures, and via Get Safe Online we will continue to work to raise awareness and to educate and empower people and firms to protect themselves online.

Government Departments: Databases

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, columns 679-80W, on Government Departments: databases, and with reference to the Autumn Statement, what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the economy of the Open Data project.

Francis Maude: The Autumn Statement given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, included a number of measures developed by the Transparency Team in the Cabinet Office, with the Treasury and other Departments, designed to boost investment in medical research and digital technology in the UK, including many small and medium sized enterprises.
	These measures should improve medical knowledge and practice with world-first linked-data services which will enable healthcare impacts to be tracked across the entire health service. In addition, commitments were also made to release data related to planned and real-time information on the running of trains and buses across Great Britain and data on almost every road in Britain. Measures will also empower patients through individual access to their personal GP records online and encourage the market for education data management and learning platforms.
	The Government also established a Data Strategy Board and a Public Data Group that will maximise the value of the data from the Met Office, Ordnance Survey, the Land Registry and Companies House. It will make available for free a range of core reference datasets from these bodies to support the development of high-value data businesses.
	In view of the commercial and social priority of open data, the Government are to commit up to £10 million over five years with match funding from industry and academic centres to support an Open Data Institute through the Technology Strategy Board. Further details on these measures can be found at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/open-data-measures-autumn-statement-2011

Third Sector: North West

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many charities were established in the North West in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission, have asked the Commission's chief executive to reply.
	Letter from Sam Younger, dated 19 December 2011
	.
	The number of charities whose area of operation was within the North West of England (as defined by the Office for National Statistics) that were newly registered during each calendar year was as follows.
	
		
			 Registered in: Charities 
			 2008 435 
			 2009 516 
			 2010 486 
		
	
	There may be additional charities, such as those with an income of less than £5,000 per annum, which are not required to register and for which information is not available.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Advocacy Fund provided to developing countries' negotiators at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban.

Andrew Mitchell: The Advocacy Fund provided technical, legal and logistical support to developing country negotiators at the UN conference in Durban. This included:
	Support to the Least Developed Countries Group to coordinate, to access technical support on key negotiation issues and to send delegates to cover important issues.
	Training to support younger negotiators from developing countries to fully participate and develop their skills in the negotiations.
	Provision of legal advice and legal briefing on negotiation issues to developing country negotiators.

Developing Countries: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which country offices used his Department's Guidance note on education for children with disabilities as part of their planning for aid to the education sector during his Department's bilateral aid review.

Stephen O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to the inclusion of disabled people in development. To this end, we are supporting countries to develop realistic plans for programmes that ensure everyone has access to education, including children with disabilities. DFID's guidance note on inclusive education for all children with disabilities in developing countries, published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies, was provided to all our country offices to support their education sector appraisals in the bilateral aid review.
	We do not specifically monitor the use of policy guidance by individual country advisers. All of our country offices are currently producing business cases setting out the details of their education support. These will contain more specific programming information than the operational plans that cover all sectors. All business cases are published on the DFID website at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	when they are approved.

Developing Countries: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the use by country offices of his Department's Guidance note on education for children with disabilities in their planning under the bilateral aid review.

Stephen O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to the inclusion of disabled people in development.
	The Department for International Development's (DFID) guidance note on inclusive education for all children with disabilities in developing countries, was published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies. The note offers practical suggestions on supporting children with disabilities to access education and learn effectively and is available on the DFID website. DFID does not specifically monitor the use of policy guidance by individual country advisers. However, we are supporting countries to develop realistic plans for programmes that ensure everyone has access to education, including children with disabilities.

Developing Countries: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what training and support his Department (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide to enable country offices to effectively implement his Department's Guidance note on education for children with disabilities.

Stephen O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to ensuring the inclusion of disabled people in development. The guidance note on inclusive education for children with disabilities in developing countries was developed with practitioners and experts in this field and was published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies.
	Our guidance on disability assists with practical suggestions on how country offices can work with governments and non-government organisations on how policies and programmes can support access to education for children with disabilities and to learn effectively. This guidance is among a range of policy guidance made specifically available on an internal website set up to support country offices with their business case planning. All education advisers are offered support with continuous professional development and training in a multitude of areas of education and development, which include how to support children with disabilities.

Drugs: Patents

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with UK-based pharmaceutical companies to encourage their participation in the medicine patent pool.

Stephen O'Brien: The UK Government supported the establishment of the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) through our contributions to UNITAID. The UK has a constant dialogue with pharmaceutical companies, like Gilead Sciences, a member of the MPP, through the members of the Industry Government Forum on Access to Medicines. Gilead Sciences, who has joined the Patent Pool, is also a member. There is more information on our website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/igfam
	We are also aware of and encourage continuing discussions directly between pharmaceutical companies and the Medicines Patent Pool.

Nigeria: Overseas Aid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on his Department's aid contribution to Nigeria; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: Despite producing oil, Nigeria is not a rich country. Its total economy is one-twentieth the size of the UK's economy, with many more people. Over 100 million Nigerians live on less than £1 a day. A peaceful, more democratic and prosperous Nigeria, meeting the basic needs of its citizens, is possible within a generation and the Department for International Development (DFID) remain committed to supporting this.
	As outlined in the DFID Operational Plan for Nigeria, which was published in May 2011, between 2011 and 2015 DFID will focus on promoting democracy, wealth creation and the delivery of basic services. We will work with the Nigerian Government to spend their own money more effectively. No UK aid will go through government budgets, so as to protect against corruption and avoid substituting Nigerian public resources.

Nigeria: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development programmes funded by his Department aim at promoting democracy in Nigeria.

Andrew Mitchell: In Nigeria, our support to promote democracy is channelled through the “Deepening Democracy in Nigeria programme”. The programme spans the period 2010-15. In partnership with the US government and the United Nations Development Programme, we support parliament, civil society, the election commission and political parties. There is a particular focus on getting more women to take part in the electoral process.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) was instrumental in enabling Nigerians to have their first ever credible elections in April 2011. At a cost of 33p per voter, we helped the election commission register 73 million voters in 2010. Towards the next elections in 2015, we are working to strengthen the election commission's ability to manage elections, improve Parliament's ability to hold the executive to account and support civil society to demand greater accountability from elected leaders.

Turkey: Earthquakes

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Turkish government on the recent earthquake in that country.

Andrew Mitchell: In response to a specific request from the Turkish Government I agreed to provide 1,144 protective winter tents to house 5,500 people who were without shelter. The Turkish Government have not made any further requests. The UK Government will continue to monitor the situation in the affected region.

Biofuels

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the change in the amount of biofuels which will be needed for transport fuel in order to meet the requirement of the renewable energy directive for 10% of transport fuel to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The renewable energy directive (RED) contains a target for the UK to source 10% of energy used in transport, from renewable sources by 2020. The contribution of biofuels made from wastes, residues, non-food cellulosic material and ligno-celluiosic material will count twice towards this target.
	Given uncertainties over the sustainability of all biofuels and the best deployment across sectors we have not, at this stage, amended the renewable transport fuel obligation biofuel supply targets. The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) is obliged under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2011 to come forward with proposals for measures to ensure delivery of the transport requirements of the RED for the period 2014 to 2020 at a later date.

Office of Rail Regulation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what progress she has made in reforming the Office of Rail Regulation to better represent the interests of passengers.

Theresa Villiers: The Government and the Office of Rail Regulation will shortly consult on the scope and case for transferring certain powers and functions relating to the protection of passenger interests from the Department for Transport to the Regulator.

Railways: Fares

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has any plans to use the consumer prices index as a measure for the change in regulated rail fares in future.

Theresa Villiers: We have no plans to use the consumer price index as replacement for the retail price index in the cap on regulated fares.

Siemens

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Thameslink rolling stock contract, what recent assessment she has made of Siemens plc's credit rating; and whether her Department holds information on Siemens plc's credit rating in each month since June 2011. [R]

Theresa Villiers: The Department has relied on publically available information from Moody's and Standard and Poor's.
	Moody's Investor's Services has assigned Siemens plc an A1 credit rating since November 2007. Standard and Poor's has assigned them an A+ credit rating since June 2009.

Cost of Elections

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) elections for police and crime commissioners, (b) referendums for elected mayors and (c) the work of the Boundary Commission.

Mark Harper: The Government currently estimates that the cost of:
	elections for police and crime commissioners in November 2012 will be up to £75 million;
	the cost of referendums for elected mayors will be £2.5 million; and
	the costs to the four Boundary Commissions of undertaking a boundary review under the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act is £11.9 million.

Anguilla: Politics and Government

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reasons are for changing the financial and economic permanent secretaries in Anguilla.

Henry Bellingham: I refer the hon. Member to the Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Howell of Guildford's answer of 11 August 2011, column WA 454, to the noble Lord Jones of Cheltenham. I also wrote to you on 22 August this year in response to your e-mail of 22 July answering your questions on this issue.

Congo: Politics and Government

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what observers the UK sent to the recent elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: To ensure that the elections were monitored appropriately, we worked with internationally-recognised monitoring experts in the EU and the Carter Center to ensure that a high-quality network of observers was in the country before, during and after the election. There were five British participants in the EU observation mission plus 18 British participants in the European Network for Central Africa (EURAC) mission. Two of the participants in the EURAC mission are members of the Great Lakes All Party Parliamentary Group: Ian Lucas MP and Lord McConnell. We also funded a UK elections expert from ERIS to accompany the Southern African Development Community non-government organisation mission. Finally, the British embassy in Kinshasa fielded a team of 12 accredited observers.

Congo: Politics and Government

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK has made to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the conduct of recent elections in that country.

Henry Bellingham: In the run up to and throughout the election process, we have engaged closely with the Democratic Republic of Congo authorities on the conduct of the elections.
	In my 9 December 2011 statement, I said that I remained concerned by the reports of irregularities both in the run up to and throughout the process.
	The British ambassador in Kinshasa has lobbied Prime Minister Muzito, advisers to President Kabila, the Secretary General of the majority People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy party, and Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante President Mulunda, to stress the need for a credible investigation into the presidential results process, urgent measures to improve the legislative elections results process (which is now under way, with results due on 13 January) and for lessons to be learned before the provincial elections, due in 2012. We have also stressed that the Supreme Court needs to be visibly neutral through the elections process.

Croatia: Elections

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will have discussions with Council of Europe election monitors on alleged irregularities in the recent Croatian elections.

David Lidington: The Council of Europe did not send an observer mission to Croatia during the recent elections. However, international observers from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observer mission as well as local NGOs reported that the elections were democratic. There was no reference to election fraud in the conclusions of the ODIHR mission and no appeals have been launched against the result.

Embassies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomatic posts his Department has (a) opened and (b) closed in the last five years; and whether it plans to open any posts in 2012.

David Lidington: In his statement to the House on 11 May 2011, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), set out the Government's commitment not to close any sovereign UK posts overseas in the lifetime of the current Parliament; to retain all 140 existing British embassies and High Commissions, and to open up to six new embassies and seven new Consulates General. This is part of a drive to expand and strengthen Britain's diplomatic network, particularly in the fastest growing parts of the world.
	No embassies have therefore been closed since May 2010. We have opened a new embassy in Juba, South Sudan. We have upgraded the UK's representation in Cote d'lvoire to a full embassy. A fully accredited ambassador will take up position in spring 2012. We have opened a new consulate in Recife, Brazil. In 2012 we plan to open new embassies in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; San Salvador, El Salvador and, when local circumstances permit, Madagascar and Somalia. The upgrading of the trade office in Calgary to a full British Consulate General in 2012 has also been announced.
	This expansion of the diplomatic network is being funded by withdrawing diplomatic staff from some subordinate posts in Europe, while retaining UKTI and consular staff in many cases and not closing any sovereign posts. Since May 2010, the British Consulates in Lille, France; Venice and Florence, Italy have closed. Other savings will also be found as we reduce over time our diplomatic footprint in Iraq and Afghanistan.
	Between 2006 and May 2010, six embassies and High Commission offices and eight British Consulate Generals and Consulates were closed. Details are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Period Country Post name Status Closed 
			 2004-05 Cameroon Douala BC 1 
			 2004-05 Portugal Oporto BC 1 
			 2005-06 Lesotho Maseru BHC 1 
		
	
	
		
			 2005-06 Madagascar Antananarivo Embassy 1 
			 2005-06 Swaziland Mbabane BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Cote d'lvoire Abidjan Embassy 1 
			 2005-06 Bahamas Nassau BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Paraguay Asuncion Embassy 1 
			 2005-06 USA Dallas BC 1 
			 2005-06 USA San Juan (Puerto Rico) BC 1 
			 2005-06 Japan Fukuoka BC 1 
			 2005-06 Vanuatu Port Vila BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Germany Frankfurt BCG 1 
			 2005-06 Germany Stuttgart BCG 1 
			 2005-06 Yemen Aden BCG 1 
			 2005 Kiribati Tarawa BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Tonga Nuku' alofa BHC 1 
			 2005 Haiti Port au Prince BCG 1 
			 2006-07 Australia Adelaide BC 1 
			 2006-07 East Timor Dili Embassy 1 
			 2006-07 Germany Hamburg BCG 1 
			 2006-07 Sweden Gothenberg BCG 1 
			 2006-07 USA Seattle BC 1 
			 2011 Italy Venice BCG — 
			 2010 Switzerland Geneva BCG — 
		
	
	In 2007, three High Commission offices (Kingstown. St Vincent and the Grenadines) and the Consulate in Nagoya, Japan were closed.
	In 2008, two High Commission offices (St John's, Antigua and St George's, Grenada) were closed.
	The Consulate General in Lille closed in August 2011.

Embassies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which overseas countries no representative of the Government is in residence.

David Lidington: While some embassies and high commissions are responsible for countries where there is no British representation, British Missions are not accredited. Heads of Mission, ambassadors and high commissioners are accredited. A number of Heads of Missions hold the title of Her Majesty's Non-Resident Ambassador/High Commissioner. A full list is provided.
	
		
			 Country/territory Location Head of Mission resident in: 
			 Andorra Andorra La Vella Madrid, Spain 
			 Antigua and Barbuda St John's Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Bahamas Nassau Kingston, Jamaica 
			 Benin Porto-Novo Accra, Ghana 
			 Bhutan Thimphu New Delhi, India 
			 Burkina Faso Ouagadougou Accra, Ghana 
			 Burundi Bujumbura Kigali, Rwanda 
			 Cape Verde Praia Dakar, Senegal 
			 Central African Republic Bangui Yaoundé, Cameroon 
			 Chad N'Djamena Yaoundé, Cameroon 
			 Comoros Moroni Port Louis, Mauritius 
			 Congo (republic of) Brazzaville Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo 
			 Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Accra, Ghana 
			 Djibouti Djibouti Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
			 Dominica, Commonwealth of Roseau Bridgetown, Barbados 
		
	
	
		
			 El Salvador San Salvador Guatemala City, Guatemala 
			 Equatorial Guinea Malabo Yaoundé, Cameroon 
			 Gabon Libreville Yaoundé, Cameroon 
			 Grenada Saint George's Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Guinea Bissau Bissau Dakar, Senegal 
			 Haiti Port au Prince Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 
			 Holy See — British Embassy to the Holy See, located in Rome 
			 Honduras Tegucigalpa Guatemala City, Guatemala 
			 Kiribati Tarawa Suva, Fiji 
			 Laos Vientiane Bangkok, Thailand 
			 Lesotho Maseru Pretoria, South Africa 
			 Liberia Monrovia Freetown, Sierra Leone 
			 Liechtenstein Vaduz Berne, Switzerland 
			 Madagascar Antananarivo Port Louis 
			 Maldives Male Colombo, Sri Lanka 
			 Marshall Islands Majuro Manila, the Philippines 
			 Mauritania Nouakchott Rabat, Morocco 
			 Micronesia, Federated States of Palikir Manila, the Philippines 
			 Monaco Monaco Paris, France 
			 Nauru Yaren Suva, Fiji 
			 Nicaragua Managua san Jose, Costa Rica 
			 Niger Niamey Bamako, Mali 
			 Palau Melekeok Manila, the Philippines 
			 Paraguay Asuncion Buenos Aires, Argentina 
			 Saint Kitts and Nevis Basseterre Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Saint Lucia Castries Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Kingstown Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Samoa Apia Wellington, New Zealand 
			 San Marino San Marino Rome, Italy 
			 São Tomé and Principe São Tomé Luanda, Angola 
			 Somalia Mogadishu Nairobi, Kenya 
			 Suriname Paramaribo Georgetown, Guyana 
			 Swaziland Mbabane Pretoria, South Africa 
			 Timor-Leste Dili Jakarta, Indonesia 
			 Togo Lome Accra, Ghana 
			 Tonga Nuku’alofa Suva, Fiji 
			 Tuvalu Funafuti Suva, Fiji 
			 Vanuatu Port-Vila Suva, Fiji

]EU Accession

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what regard the Government will have to meeting the Copenhagen criteria when determining its policy on future applications for membership of the EU; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Copenhagen criteria rightly remain at the heart of the EU enlargement process. Any European country which meets the criteria should be eligible to join. The 5 December General Affairs Council and 9 December European Council conclusions reaffirmed the principle that a country's progress against these criteria should dictate the pace of the enlargement process.

]EU Accession

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the accession to the EU of (a) Iceland, (b) the Republic of Serbia, (c) Croatia, (d) Montenegro, (e) the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, (f) Albania, (g) Bosnia-Herzegovina and (h)  Turkey.

David Lidington: The Government are a strong supporter of EU enlargement which helps create stability, security and prosperity across Europe. Any European country that wishes to join the EU and meets the necessary criteria should be able to do so. Croatia, Iceland, Montenegro, Macedonia and Turkey are candidate countries. Croatia is the furthest advanced candidate country and, following signature of its Accession Treaty, is expected to join the EU on 1 July 2013. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are pre-candidate countries. The UK is committed to the future of all the countries of the Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland being in the EU, once the necessary conditions have been met. The Government believes that further EU enlargement depends on countries meeting the fair and rigorous accession criteria. Each case will be treated on its own merits.

Iran: Politics and Government

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings his Department has had with the Government of Iran; and what was discussed.

Alistair Burt: I summoned the Iranian Charge d'affaires on 30 November 2011 to express outrage at the invasion of our embassy compounds in Tehran and to notify him that all Iranian diplomats were to be expelled from the UK and the Iranian embassy closed. Since then there has been only one meeting between the Iranian Representative to the International Maritime Organisation in London and officials of the FCO's Protocol Directorate to discuss administrative arrangements for the closed Iranian embassy.
	We have not severed diplomatic relations with Iran and will maintain a minimal dialogue over issues of concern such as Iran's nuclear programme and its human rights record.

Russia: Politics and Government

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Russia on the conduct of recent elections in that country; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: As I made clear in my statement of 6 December, we have concerns about alleged violations in the Duma elections and have highlighted the need for a rapid and transparent investigation. We note President Medvedev's undertaking to do so. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the conduct of the elections with Foreign Minister Lavrov on 7 December. I also raised this issue with the Russian ambassador in a meeting on 14 December.
	As the Prime Minister, said in Moscow in September, strengthening the rule of law and democracy is essential to Russia's stability and prosperity. That must include open and fair elections and protecting the right to peaceful protest.

Syria: Human Rights

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Syria on human rights issues in that country.

Alistair Burt: We make clear in our contacts with the Syrian regime our deep concerns about ongoing human rights abuses in Syria.
	We continue to raise human rights in Syria internationally including through the EU. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) welcomed the strong action taken by the UN Human Rights Council at an unprecedented third Special Session on the human rights situation in Syria, which supports Arab League's efforts to end the bloodshed in Syria and established a special rapporteur to ensure that independent monitoring of the situation continues. The Foreign Secretary said that we will continue to do all we can to bring an immediate end to the violence.

Billing

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received from (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) suppliers on (i) the introduction of 60 day maximum payment terms between companies and (ii) mandatory disclosure of average payment terms.

Mark Prisk: There has been long-standing and widespread opposition from UK business to Government intervention on contractual freedoms of this nature and it remains the case that the best means of ensuring prompt payment is to agree terms in advance of supply. Evidence suggests that over half of UK transactions take place with no pre-agreed terms and that only one in 10 suppliers regularly credit checks customers.
	Government are supporting business to manage cash flow by ensuring it pays its own bills on time, by encouraging big business to pay according to agreed terms through the prompt payment code at:
	www.promptpaymentcode.org.uk/
	and by supporting businesses to better manage customer relationships through the Institute of Credit Management’s Managing Cash Flow Guides at:
	www.creditmanagement.org.uk/bisguides.htm
	There have been over 250,000 downloads of the Managing Cash Flow Guides to date.
	On 10 November, Government launched a Finance Fitness campaign to increase business awareness of the advice and information available to them from both Government and private sector providers. The campaign will focus upon managing cash to end January 2012, on choosing and accessing finance in February 2012 and on finance for growth in March 2012.

Business: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to assist small and medium-sized businesses to retain skills in the west midlands.

John Hayes: One of the most effective ways of encouraging skill retention in businesses is to ensure that the skills system responds more dynamically to their needs and brings greater value to their businesses from more productive employees.
	Apprenticeships represent real jobs and are at the heart of the skills system we are building. Provisional figures for 2010/11 show that total apprenticeship starts in the west midlands increased by around two-thirds on 2009/10. We are not only expanding apprenticeships but improving their quality and making it easier for businesses of all sizes to recruit apprentices. Our research shows that apprenticeships help employers improve productivity and give them a competitive edge.
	The Government announced recently that we will be offering up to 40,000 new incentive payments of £1,500 to small employers who take on and retain their first young apprentice. At the same time, we are reducing bureaucracy involved for small firms and working to ensure that the National Apprenticeship Service and training providers deliver a better service to small to medium- sized enterprises (SMEs).
	In addition, we fund a leadership and management programme for senior leaders of SMEs to help them develop their own personal leadership and management skills so they are better able to create a high performing, innovative workplace and to improve the skills of their work force. We are also providing co-funding for level 2 learning for employees of small firms, and the new Business Coaching for Growth Programme will help SMEs to overcome the barriers they face in achieving growth potential.

Copyright: Arts

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, column 449W, on copyright: arts, what consideration he has given to raising the threshold at which the levy is triggered to minimise the effect of the Directive on the art market.

Edward Davey: The threshold at which Artist's Resale Right becomes payable in the UK was set at €1,000 by the previous Administration. Suggestions have been made from time to time that the threshold should be changed but I have seen no compelling evidence that justifies any such change, either in terms of the impact on the art market or on artists.

Departmental Redundancy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of redundancies from the civil service arising from the closure of (a) the London Development Agency and (b) the North West Regional Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Neither London Development Agency (LDA) nor North West Development Agency (NWDA) staff are civil servants. The LDA has only two officers falling within the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS). The vast majority of NWDA staff are covered by the CSCS. The cost of redundancies at
	LDA and NWDA will depend on the number of staff resigning, transferring elsewhere in the public sector or leaving for other reasons, prior to closure, but is estimated not to exceed £135,000 and £7,500,000 respectively.

Higher Education: Fees and Charges

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the long-term financial sustainability of institutions charging tuition fees below £7,500; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) is under a legal duty to consider the financial health of those institutions it funds. Where an institution is identified as at high risk, HEFCE will act to prioritise the interests of students and safeguard public money.
	HEFCE’s internal assurance service is responsible for monitoring financial dealings with institutions and their overall financial health. It undertakes audit work in institutions and assesses institutional risk. Where appropriate, HEFCE provides intensive expert support and financial assistance.
	However, as HE institutions are autonomous, should one mismanage its affairs, the Government cannot offer a guarantee of protection.
	Institutions are free within the parameters set by Government to determine their own fees in line with their own business models.

Higher Education: Fees and Charges

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on his Department’s proposed changes to the further education fee structure on the number of people enrolling in higher education courses in 2013-14.

David Willetts: 2013-14 is the first financial year in which further education (FE) loans will be available, for those studying in the 2013/14 academic year, so it is unlikely that there will be any impact on HE course enrolment for the same (2013/14) academic year.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will publish both a full impact assessment of FE loans and an equality impact assessment of FE loans in March 2012.
	Both impact assessments will be informed by research and analysis commissioned by BIS. This will include the results of an online learner panel survey carried out by Opinion Panel, as well as TNS-BMRB work with potential FE students to understand how FE loans might affect their decision to study, and further research as required.

Higher Education: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2011, Official Report, column 516W, on higher education: finance, how many (a) doctoral, (b) taught Masters and (c) research Masters postgraduate degree course places in each subject area were funded by (i) the Higher Education Funding Council for England and (ii) other organisations in the public sector in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: holding answer 19 December 2011
	Information on the number of postgraduate taught (PGT) and postgraduate research (PGR) full-time equivalent students (FTEs) counted in the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) teaching and research funding methodologies for England are shown in Tables 1 and 2 as follows. The postgraduate taught figures are broken down into the following broad subject areas:
	(A) The clinical stages of medicine and dentistry courses and veterinary science.
	(B) Laboratory-based subjects (science, pre-clinical stages of medicine and dentistry, engineering and technology).
	(C) Subjects with a studio, laboratory or fieldwork element.
	(D) All other subjects
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of postgraduate taught (PGT) FTEs (English institutions) 
			  2010-11 FTEs 2011-12 Assumed FTEs 
			 Price group Mainstream Co-funded Mainstream Co-funded 
			 (A) 1,911.4 30.4 1,911.4 30.4 
			 (B) 10,918.2 137.0 10,891.5 188.0 
			 (C) 31,548.8 1,493.6 31,585.2 1,881.6 
			 (D) 34,072.7 795.4 34,073.1 956.6 
			 Total 78,451.2 2,456.4 78,461.2 3,056.6 
			 Sources: 1. 2010-11 FTEs (mainstream) taken from HESES/HEIFES10 2. 2010-11 FTEs (co-funded) taken from the 2010-11 monitoring return 3. 2011-12 Assumed FTEs taken from the October 2011-12 sector grant tables 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of postgraduate research (PGR) FTEs (English institutions) 
			 Subject area Eligible PGR FTEs in 2010-11 funding Eligible PGR FTEs in 2011-12 funding Difference Percentage difference 
			 Sciences (including medicine) 23,080 24,614 1,534 7 
			 Social sciences 9,101 9,976 875 10 
			 Arts and humanities 7,472 8,096 623 8 
			 Total England 39,654 42,686 3,032 8 
			 Source: Eligible PGR students in years 1 to 3 of full-time study (and part-time equivalent) taken from the 2009 and 2010 HEFCE Research Activity Surveys. 
		
	
	Table 3 as follows shows headcount figures on the number of taught masters, other masters, PhD and other doctoral studies places were funded in 2010/11 and are expected to be funded in 2011/12 in the UK by Research Councils UK. The figures are broken down by research council.
	
		
			 Table 3: Number of headcount postgraduate places funded by RCUK (UK institutions) 
			  Taught masters Other masters PhD Other doctoral studies 
			  2010/11 2011/12 2010/11 2011/12 2010/11 2011/12 2010/11 2011/12 
			 AHRC — — 607 490 729 730 — — 
			 BBSRC — — 110 110 555 530 — — 
			 EPSRC — — — — 2,902 1,900 — — 
			 ESRC — — 6 6 730 660 — — 
			 MRC — — — — — — — — 
			 NERC — — 285 — 325 330 — — 
			 STFC — — — — 225 230 — — 
			 General notes: 1. The data does not take in to account any funds leveraged by HEIs to increase the total number of studentship places available. 2. Figures for 2011/12 are estimates and hence the actual numbers may vary from those given above. If universities choose to support part-time students and fees-only students, and/or match research council funding with that from other sources, then more students will be able to be supported; PhD students may also be supported by larger research grants from some councils. Notes on Medical Research Council (MRC) data  : 1. All of the data presented above excludes studentships at MRC funded centres. In 2008/09 there were a total of 226 students undergoing doctoral training in MRC funded Centres. This figure includes existing and new students. The MRC does not have data available for any other years.  2. Data for 2010/11 and 2011/12 are not yet available.  3. The number of studentship places funded by the MRC is subject to annual review. At present MRC have no plans to significantly increase or decrease funding for PhD or Research Masters Studentships. Notes on Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) data: All masters students are included in "Other masters". Separate figures are not available for Taught and Research masters. PhD studentship numbers (or the last three years are estimates from data based on returns provided by awarded institutions. Notes on Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) data: EPSRC only supports masters-level training when it aligns with their broader strategy. For this reason, in 2009 they decided to focus most of their support in this area on activities which employ masters-level training as a means of developing highly skilled doctoral-level researchers, rather than those which view the provision of masters graduates as an end in itself. As a result, their current support for masters-level training is delivered via the Centres for Doctoral Training, Doctoral Training Accounts and some courses in Mathematical Sciences (eg Statistics). Not all of these routes provide students with a formal masters qualification so it would be difficult to be definitive about numbers over a specific period. Notes on Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) data: ESRC funds a mix of 3 year PhD and 1 year + 3 years masters + PhD awards. The total amount of these awards is included under section (c) PhD for the previous and next three years. ESRC are unable to disaggregate these figures further in the time available without use of disproportionate resources, however they estimate that 60% of the awards are of the 1 + 3 type. Under section (b) Other masters, they have included a strategic initiative where we fund standalone masters to build research capacity in demography. Notes on Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) data: NERC does not differentiate between MSc and MRes, so all places listed as other masters.

Higher Education: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness among UK universities and other higher education providers.

David Willetts: The Department is not itself undertaking specific activity to promote deaf awareness in higher education. However, we provide funding to both Disability Alliance and the Equality Challenge Unit, independent organisations which alongside providing advice and guidance to higher education institutions also help raise awareness about a range of equality issues in the sector.
	Higher education institutions have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to support disabled students, including deaf students, when applying to higher education and when studying. The law establishes a framework of responsibility which higher education institutions must comply with and also promotes an anticipatory and proactive approach to supporting disabled students. Institutions are required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students to ensure that they can fully participate in their education and enjoy the other benefits, facilities and services which are provided for students.
	The Government support disabled students in higher education through funding. We provide funding to higher education institutions, through the Higher Education Funding Council for England, to help them recruit and support disabled students; £13 million will be provided in academic year 2011/12.
	The Government also provide direct support to disabled students through disabled students’ allowances (DSAs). DSAs can help pay the extra costs a student may incur, because of a disability, when undertaking a course of higher education. DSAs are provided in addition to the standard student support package, are not income-assessed and do not have to be repaid.

Post Offices

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Post Office Locals in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland he expects will be located in (i) urban and (ii) rural areas.

Edward Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2011, Official Report, columns 1030-31W. The exact location of new Post Office Local branches is dependent on the suitability of the Local model to the location concerned, the views of existing sub-postmaster on how the model can assist their business going forward, and the requirement by Post Office Ltd to both maintain a network of at least 11,500 branches and to continue to comply with the strict access criteria whereby, for example, over 99% of the national population must be within three miles of a post office outlet.
	The Post Office Local model, which has been designed with the customer specifically in mind, is expected to be most suitable for those sub-post offices and retail premises that are typically found in urban, suburban and larger rural communities.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 286W, on education maintenance allowance, if he will take steps to ensure that the independent evaluation considers the effects of the new arrangements for financial support for young people aged 16 to 19 on (a) recruitment, (b) attendance levels, (c) retention and (d) achievement of students post-16.

Nick Gibb: The three year independent evaluation will be supplemented by regular analyses of management information from providers in receipt of 16 to 19 Bursary funding. The evaluation will collect and analyse the characteristics of applicants and recipients of the bursaries to enable the Department to asses whether the fund is meeting the needs of young people (particularly those disproportionately less likely to participate post-16). It will also consider the perceived impact of the bursaries and examine providers decision-making processes when awarding bursaries; and inform reviews of allocation criteria during subsequent years of the programme.

Educational Visits: Accidents

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many incidents requiring hospitalisation there were involving children on school trips and expeditions in the UK in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is not held centrally by the Department. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) collects data on injuries reported and defined under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 and provides the following information:
	
		
			 Reported non-fatal injuries  (1)   to pupils/students  (2)   in primary and secondary education  (3)  , 2009/10 and 2010/11  (4) 
			 Work process  (5) 2009/10 2010/11  (4) Total 
			 0813—Research irrespective of industry, type and location, includes e.g sociological research — 2 2 
			 0815—Swimming pool activities 29 26 55 
			 0818—Water Sports, boating, motor, boat, mooring at marinas 1 1 2 
			 0820—Go-Karting 1  1 
			 0821—Horse riding and equestrian sports (not horse training/breeding) 8 9 17 
			 0822––Adventure Activity and Education field studies 12 15 27 
			 Total 51 53 104 
			 (1) Injuries are reported and defined under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. Unless engaged in work experience or work placements, school pupils are classed as 'members of the public'. Under RIDDOR there are two categories of severity of injury for members of the public: fatal injuries and non-fatal injuries that cause a person to be taken from the site of the accident to hospital. On the basis of the criteria selected there were no fatal injuries reported in 2009/10 or in 2010/11. (2) Identified by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2000 Unit Group 0002 ‘Student’. (3) Identified by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007 classes 85.10 ‘Pre-primary education’, 85.20 ‘Primary education’, 85.30 ‘General secondary education’ and 85.32 ‘Technical and vocational secondary education’. (4 )Provisional. (5) Specific codes from Work Process Group 08 ‘Education, Training, Research and Recreation/Sporting Activities’—HSE accident coding classification.

Free Schools

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which free schools planning to open in 2012 or later have received initial approval in each (a) region, (b) local authority and (c) parliamentary constituency.

Nick Gibb: Applications for 71 free schools planning to open in 2012 or beyond have been approved to move to pre-opening stage. The locations of the free schools will depend on the availability of suitable sites, but as a guide, the proposed locations (at the time of application) are as follows:
	
		
			 Name of free school Region Local authority Constituency 
			 Al Madinah East Midlands Derby Derby South 
			 Alban City Free School East of England Hertfordshire St Albans 
			 ARK Bolingbroke Academy London Wandsworth Battersea 
			 Atherton Free School North West Wig an Leigh 
		
	
	
		
			 Barrow 1618 West Midlands Shropshire Ludlow 
			 Barwick's Own 2nd Secondary School North East Stockton-on-Tees Stockton South 
			 BBG Parents Alliance Yorkshire and the Humber Kirklees Batley and Spen 
			 Becket Keys Church School East of England Essex Brentwood and Ongar 
			 Brandon Free School East of England Suffolk West Suffolk 
			 Brighton Bilingual Primary School South East Brighton and Hove Brighton Kemptown 
			 CET Primary School London Tower Hamlets Bethnal Green and Bow 
			 CET Primary School London Westminster Westminster North 
			 Chorley Career and Sixth Form Academy North West Lancashire Chorley 
			 City of Peterborough Academy East of England Peterborough Peterborough 
			 City of Peterborough Academy Special School East of England Peterborough Peterborough 
			 Cobham Free School South East Surrey Esher and Walton 
			 Compass School London Southwark Bermondsey and Old Southwark 
			 Corby Free School East Midlands Northamptonshire Corby 
			 Cramlington Village Primary School North East Northumberland Blyth Valley 
			 Derby Pride Academy East Midlands Derby Derby South 
			 Dixons City Free Primary Yorkshire and the Humber Bradford Bradford East 
			 Dixons City Free School Yorkshire and the Humber Bradford Bradford East 
			 East Birmingham Network Free School West Midlands Birmingham Birmingham, Hodge Hill 
			 Emmanuel Community School London Waltham Forest Walthamstow 
			 EN3 Primary School London Enfield Enfield North 
			 Europa School, UK South East Oxfordshire Henley 
			 Everton in the Community Free School Trust North West Liverpool Liverpool Wavertree 
			 Frome Steiner Academy South West Somerset Somerton and Frome 
			 Gateway Primary Free School East of England Thurrock Thurrock, Eastern 
			 Golders Green Jewish Primary School London Barnet Finchley and Golders Green 
			 Grindon Hall Free School North East Sunderland Washington and Sunderland West 
			 Haringey Free School London Haringey Tottenham 
			 Harmonize Academy North West Liverpool Liverpool, Walton 
			 Harpenden Free School East of England Hertfordshire Hitchin and Harpenden 
			 Harris Peckham Primary School London Southwark Camberwell and Peckham 
			 Hatfield Community Free School East of England Hertfordshire Welwyn Hatfield 
			 Hull Free School Yorkshire and the Humber Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull North 
			 Kempston Academy East of England Bedford Borough Bedford 
			 King's School Woolston North West Warrington Warrington North 
			 Kingfisher Hall Primary Academy London Enfield Edmonton 
			 Lighthouse School Yorkshire and the Humber Leeds Pudsey 
			 London Academy of Excellence London Newham West Ham 
			 Michaela Community School London Lambeth Vauxhall 
			 Newham Free Academy London Newham West Ham 
			 Nishkam School Trust West Midlands Birmingham Birmingham, Perry Barr 
			 North Ealing Church of England Academy 2013 Opener London Ealing Ealing North 
			 Oakbank School South East Wokingham Wokingham 
			 One in a Million Free School Yorkshire and the Humber Bradford Bradford West 
			 Parkfield New School South West Bournemouth Bournemouth West 
			 Pimlico Primary London Westminster Cities of London and Westminster 
			 Reach Academy Feltham London Hounslow Feltham and Heston 
			 Reading University Technical Academy South East Reading Reading East 
			 Rivendale Primary School London Hammersmith and Fulham Hammersmith 
			 Rosewood School South East Southampton Southampton Test 
			 Rotherham Central Free School Yorkshire and the Humber Rotherham Rother Valley 
			 Sandymoor School North West Halton Weaver Vale 
			 School 21 London Newham West Ham 
			 Southwark Free School London Southwark Bermondsey and Old Southwark 
			 St Chaitanya's School London Harrow Harrow East 
			 St Michael's Catholic Secondary School South West Cornwall Camborne and Redruth 
			 Stone Soup Learns East Midlands Nottingham Nottingham East 
			 Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School North West Blackburn with Darwen Blackburn 
		
	
	
		
			 The Beccles Free School East Of England Suffolk Suffolk Coastal 
			 The Excellence Academy West Midlands Sandwell West Bromwich East 
			 The Greenwich Free School London Greenwich Greenwich and Woolwich 
			 The Hawthorne's Free School North West Sefton Bootle 
			 The Rural Enterprise Academy West Midlands Staffordshire Stafford 
			 The Saxmundham Free School East of England Suffolk Suffolk Coastal 
			 The Swanage School South West Dorset South Dorset 
			 The Tiger School South East Kent Maidstone and The Weald 
			 Wapping High School London Tower Hamlets Poplar and Limehouse

Free Schools: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what methodology his Department uses in respect of the calculation of revenue funding for free schools; how much he has allocated to each free school in 2011-12; and how many pupils were enrolled in each school as at September 2011.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 October 2011
	Annual revenue funding for free schools is equivalent to that received by maintained schools and academies in the same local authority area.
	Guidance on the methodology used to calculate revenue funding for free schools can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/a0073853/advice-on-free-school-revenue-funding-201112
	The revenue funding allocated to each of the 24 open free schools for the academic year 2011/12 by the YPLA is shown in the following table (excluding site and start-up costs).
	
		
			 School LA Phase Total pupil funding 2011/12 (rounded) (£) 
			 Aldborough E-ACT Free School Redbridge Primary 545,000 
			 All Saints Junior School Reading Primary 158,000 
			 ARK Atwood Primary Academy Westminster Primary 420,000 
			 ARK Conway Primary Academy Hammersmith and Fulham Primary 258,000 
			 Batley Grammar School Kirklees All-through 2,505,000 
			 Bristol Free School Bristol Secondary 514,000 
			 Canary Wharf College Tower Hamlets Primary 416,000 
			 Discovery New School West Sussex Primary 278,000 
			 Eden Primary School Haringey Primary 226,000 
			 Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Barnet Primary 202,000 
			 Kings Science Academy Bradford Secondary 797,000 
			 Krishna-Avanti Primary School Leicester Primary 260,000 
			 Langley Hall Primary Academy Slough Primary 827,000 
			 Maharishi School Lancashire All-through 618,000 
			 Moorlands Free School Luton Primary 1,402,000 
			 Nishkam Free School Birmingham Primary 933,000 
			 Priors Free School Warwickshire Primary 243,000 
			 Rainbow Primary School Bradford Primary 290,000 
			 Sandbach School Cheshire East Secondary 4,893,000 
			 St Luke's Church of England Primary School Camden Primary 169,000 
			 Stour Valley Community School Suffolk Secondary 875,000 
			 The Free School Norwich Norfolk Primary 427,000 
			 West London Free School Hammersmith and Fulham Secondary 825,000 
			 Woodpecker Hall Primary School Enfield Primary 392,000 
		
	
	We estimate that the free schools which opened in September 2011 have over 3,000 pupils enrolled in total. Information about the number of children on roll at each school will be collected in the annual school census and published in due course.

Grammar Schools: Free School Meals

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils at grammar schools are entitled to free school meals as a proportion of all pupils in (a) the catchment area at the school, (b) the local authority ward in which the school is located and (c) the local authority area in which the school is located.

Nick Gibb: The requested information by local authority area and local authority ward is shown in the following tables.
	Information for the catchment area of the schools is not available.
	
		
			 Selective schools: pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  (1, 2, 3)  , January 2011, by ward, for those with at least one selective school, England 
			 Ward name Number on roll, all schools in the ward area  (2, 3, 4) Number of pupils in selective schools known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in the ward area  (1, 2, 3) Number of pupils in selective schools  (1)   known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as a percentage of all pupils  (2. 3. 4 )  in the ward area 
			 Abbey 15,951 56 0.35 
			 Alcester 1,423 4 0.28 
		
	
	
		
			 Alford 1,549 17 1.10 
			 Altrincham 1,574 22 1.40 
			 Aston 7,609 64 0.84 
			 Bartley Green 3,837 19 0.50 
			 Barton 8,137 33 0.41 
			 Baylis and Stoke 2,160 20 0.93 
			 Beaconsfield South 1,909 x x 
			 Beddington South 2,769 12 0.43 
			 Bedgrove 4,749 11 0.23 
			 Benenden and Cranbrook 1,561 x x 
			 Bilton 1,637 12 0.73 
			 Blenheim Park 3,675 31 0.84 
			 Bockhanger 901 26 2.89 
			 Bourne East 2,398 9 0.38 
			 Bournville 5,121 43 0.84 
			 Bowdon 3,120 29 0.93 
			 Bridge 5,775 14 0.24 
			 Buckingham South 1,818 17 0.94 
			 Bulk 1,805 19 1.05 
			 Burnham Church 1,444 18 1.25 
			 Caistor 1,307 5 0.38 
			 Caldecott 961 9 0.94 
			 Canford Heath West 1,108 24 2.17 
			 Central 19,197 38 0.20 
			 Central Harbour 658 24 3.65 
			 Chatham Central 2,931 24 0.82 
			 Chesham Bois and Weedon Hill 1,578 7 0.44 
			 Christ Church 916 5 0.55 
			 Christchurch 4,399 25 0.57 
			 Church 5,663 27 0.48 
			 Churston-with-Galmpton 1,281 34 2.65 
			 Clatterbridge 2,782 74 2.66 
			 Claughton 3,792 59 1.56 
			 Cockington-with-Chelston 2,876 25 0.87 
			 Coly Valley 877 11 1.25 
			 Creekmoor 1,122 28 2.50 
			 Danson Park 2,070 41 1.98 
			 Drake 776 25 3.22 
			 Duke’s 2,265 18 0.79 
			 East 5,968 25 0.42 
			 Eastcliff 811 24 2.96 
			 Elmbridge 1,086 7 0.64 
			 Farnborough and Crofton 3,444 4 0.12 
			 Folkestone Park 2,604 49 1.88 
			 Folkestone Sandgate 1,202 49 4.08 
			 Fullwell 3,044 32 1.05 
			 Gainsborough North 2,196 21 0.96 
			 Garden Suburb 2,456 13 0.53 
			 Hale 4,935 18 0.36 
		
	
	
		
			 Hale End and Highams Park 2,002 26 1.30 
			 Haselbury 4,169 39 0.94 
			 Hatherton Rushall 1,346 31 2 30 
			 Heath 8,060 18 0.22 
			 Heckmondwike 3,247 22 0.68 
			 Hesters Way 799 6 0.75 
			 High Barnet 2,866 17 0.59 
			 High Street 2,678 20 0.75 
			 Hilltop and Townsend 1,072 13 1.21 
			 Horncastle 1,883 10 0.53 
			 Hoylake 1,758 28 1.59 
			 Illingworth 3,390 10 0.29 
			 Judd 1,808 6 0.33 
			 Katesgrove 1,339 5 0.37 
			 Kedermister 3,096 16 0.52 
			 Kingsholm and Wotton 1,377 11 0.80 
			 Langley St Mary's 1,100 5 0.45 
			 Lexden 2,186 4 0.18 
			 Little Chalfont 1,079 5 0.46 
			 Longford 4,625 61 1.32 
			 Luton and Wayfield 3,390 30 0.88 
			 Marconi 916 6 0.66 
			 Marlow North and West 2,482 x x 
			 Medway 1,996 10 0.50 
			 Moreland 1,459 13 0.89 
			 Newport West 1,074 8 0.74 
			 Nonsuch 1,525 15 0.98 
			 Norbiton 1,258 16 1.27 
			 North 6,252 12 0.19 
			 Orpington 2,166 5 0.23 
			 Paddock 2,890 16 0.55 
			 Park 30,558 11 0.04 
			 Patching Hall 1,883 6 0.32 
			 Pelham 1,189 18 1.51 
			 Penrith South 1,947 6 0.31 
			 Peverell 1,859 23 1.24 
			 Pilgrim 343 10 2.92 
			 Podsmead 573 15 2.62 
			 Priory 6,519 17 0.26 
			 Prittlewell 2,843 12 0.42 
			 Redlands 855 3 0.35 
			 Ripon Spa 1,604 7 0.44 
			 River 5,160 25 0.48 
			 Rochester East 1,685 14 0.83 
			 Rochester West 1,280 25 1.95 
			 Royden 3,158 36 1.14 
			 Sandwich 2,273 IS 0.79 
			 Sidcup 3,280 24 0.73 
			 Skiplon North 2,124 18 0.85 
			 Skircoat 2,386 23 0.96 
			 Sleaford Castle 1,031 12 1.16 
			 Sleaford Westholme 2,829 19 0.67 
		
	
	
		
			 Soho 6,068 118 1.94 
			 Southchurch 2,720 24 0.88 
			 Southcourt 1,613 14 0.87 
			 Spalding St John’s 1,050 16 1.51 
			 Spalding St Mary’s 2,678 20 0.75 
			 St Anne’s 2,682 22 0.82 
			 St Clement’s 2,151 14 0.65 
			 St John’s 13,356 33 0.25 
			 St Mark and Stratford 1,440 6 0.42 
			 St Martin and Milford 935 x x 
			 St Mary's 13,960 28 0.20 
			 St Michaels 3,002 41 1.37 
			 St Peters 4,597 42 0.89 
			 St Wulfram’s 2,429 12 0.49 
			 Stoke 3,688 15 0.41 
			 Stoke and Trent Vale 2,752 11 0.40 
			 Stour 3,281 20 0.61 
			 Stratford Guild and Hathaway 2,602 9 0.35 
			 Strouden Park 2,888 56 1.94 
			 Sutton Central 1,402 12 0.86 
			 Sutton Four Oaks 4,518 33 0.73 
			 Sutton Vesey 3,335 31 0.93 
			 Terriers and Amersham Hill 2,057 7 0.34 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,423 68 2.81 
			 Tudor 1,685 8 0.47 
			 Twydall 2,706 37 1.37 
			 Upton 5,370 85 1.58 
			 Urmston 1,323 22 1.66 
			 Vauxhall 1,028 x x 
			 Wallington North 1,244 14 1.13 
			 Wallington South 1,792 17 0.95 
			 West Finchley 1,545 21 1.36 
			 West Hill 5,089 35 0.69 
			 Whitewell 1,976 17 0.86 
			 Wilmington 2,174 29 1.33 
			 Wincheap 1,222 20 1.64 
			 x = 1 or 2 pupils or a percentage based on 1 or 2 pupils. (1) Includes pupils who are eligible for and claiming free school meals who attend one of the 164 selective schools in England. (2) Includes pupils who are a sole or dual main registration. Includes boarders. In pupil referral units includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (3 )Pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (4) Includes maintained nursery, state-funded primary, slate-funded secondary and special schools and pupil referral units. Includes middle schools as deemed, primary academies, secondary academies and city technology colleges. Source: School Census. 
		
	
	
		
			 Selective schools: pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  (1, 2, 3)  , January 2011,   by local authority area, for those with at least one selective school, England 
			  Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 LA code LA name Number on roll schools in LA area  (2,3,4) Number of pupils in selective schools known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in the LA area  (1,2,3) Number of pupils in selective schools  (1)   known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as a percentage of all pupils   (2,3,4)   in the LA area 
			 E09000003 302 Barnet 42,891 51 0.12 
			 E09000004 303 Bexley 36,231 104 0.29 
			 E08000025 330 Birmingham 163,719 308 0.19 
			 E06000028 837 Bournemouth 18,801 56 0.30 
			 E09000006 305 Bromley 41,095 9 0.02 
			 El 0000002 825 Buckinghamshire 66,753 138 0.21 
			 E08000033 381 Calderdale 31,064 33 0.11 
			 E10000006 909 Cumbria 62,887 6 0.01 
			 El0000006 878 Devon 87,844 11 0.01 
			 E09000010 308 Enfield 46,232 39 0.08 
			 E10000012 881 Essex 181,122 21 0.01 
			 E10000013 916 Gloucestershire 75,956 76 0.10 
			 El0000016 886 Kent 191,211 653 0.34 
			 E09000021 314 Kingston upon Thames 19,087 24 0.13 
			 E09000034 382 Kirklees 57,665 22 0.04 
			 El 0000017 888 Lancashire 153,392 62 0.04 
			 E10000019 925 Lincolnshire 91,660 205 0.22 
			 E08000012 341 Liverpool 57,512 27 0.05 
			 E06000035 887 Medway 37,550 155 0.41 
			 E10000023 815 North Yorkshire 74,447 25 0.03 
			 E06000026 879 Plymouth 32,908 63 0.19 
			 E06000029 836 Poole 16,965 52 0.31 
			 E06000038 870 Reading 15,601 8 0,05 
			 E09000026 317 Redbridge 41,261 58 0,14 
			 E05000039 871 Slough 20,650 81 0,39 
			 E06000033 882 Southend-on-Sea 23,997 67 0,28 
			 E06000021 861 Stoke-on-Trent 34,502 11 0,03 
			 E09000029 319 Sutton 27,364 70 0,26 
			 E06000020 894 Telford and Wrekin 24,171 8 0,03 
			 E06000027 880 Torbay 16,286 59 0,36 
			 E08000009 358 Trafford 33,016 169 0,51 
			 E08000030 335 Walsall 40,481 47 0,12 
			 El 0000031 937 Warwickshire 69,064 34 0,05 
			 E06000054 865 Wiltshire 59,691 7 0,01 
			 E08000015 344 Wirral 43,331 242 0,56 
			 E08000031 336 Wolverhampton 32,600 11 0,03 
			 (1) Includes pupils who are eligible for and claiming free school meals who attend one of the 164 selective schools in England. (2) Includes pupils who are a sole or dual main registration, Includes boarders. (3) Pupils who have full time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (4) Includes maintained nursery, slate-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools and pupil referral units, Includes middle schools as deemed, primary academies, secondary academies and city technology colleges. Source: School Census.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to extend educational opportunities to disadvantaged children; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the new admissions codes on such children.

Nick Gibb: The top education priority for the coalition Government is to improve the life chances of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Government plan to introduce an entitlement to free early education for disadvantaged two-year-olds from September 2013. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in his Autumn Statement that the Government will increase the amount of funding for this entitlement to £760 million in 2014-15. This means that at least 260,000 children will be able to benefit each year, some 40% of the total number of two-year-olds.
	From April 2011 we introduced the pupil premium, which guarantees additional funding for schools with children from low-income families, and will help boost the attainment of the poorest children. Total funding is £625 million in 2011-12 increasing to £1.25 billion in 2012-13, and £2.5 billion in 2014-15.
	On 1 December the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), laid the revised Schools Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code before Parliament as required under section 85 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Subject to the views of Parliament, these codes will come into force on 1 February 2012. Academies provide the best available opportunity for disadvantaged children in today's system, and less prescriptive Schools Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Codes will enable many more of those children to attend higher performing schools.

Reading: Primary Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department plans to issue guidance to primary schools on implementing the phonics screening at age six; and whether any such guidance will include information on how to assist children with speech, language and communication needs.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2011
	The Department is issuing three pieces of guidance for schools in relation to administering the year 1 phonics screening check. The first is the assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA) which explains the statutory requirements for administering the check in 2012. The second is a check administration guide and the third is a video version of this guide. These guides are more bespoke to the nature of the check and they refer to the responsibility of schools to ensure provision is made to meet the needs of all children with special educational needs. One of the reasons for producing a video version is that this medium can most clearly provide advice to teachers administering the check to pupils with speech, language and communication needs.

Schools: Administration

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has made on reducing the administrative burden on schools associated with requirements on continuing professional development.

Nick Gibb: The Government are committed to reducing the administrative burden on schools. The School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document requires that teachers participate in arrangements for continuing professional development, and, where appropriate, that of other teachers and support staff. There are no administrative requirements on schools in relation to teachers' professional development.
	We have recently consulted on changes to the newly qualified teachers (NQT) induction regulations with the intention of establishing new arrangements that will reduce unnecessary prescription and burdens on schools from September 2012.
	A number of measures have already been taken to reduce bureaucracy in schools: the Self Evaluation Form has been removed; the Financial Management Standard for Schools (FMSIS) has been scrapped and the inspection framework has been streamlined. In addition, all data collections are being reviewed and the volume of guidance has been significantly reduced. A number of burdensome statutory duties and requirements have also been removed through the Education Act.

Schools: Admissions

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the shortage of (a) primary school places and (b) secondary school places in (i) Lambeth local authority, (ii) London and (iii) England.

Nick Gibb: The Department collects information from each local authority on school capacity in maintained schools through an annual survey, which includes local authorities' own pupil forecasts. The most recent survey data relates to the position at May 2010 and is available on the Department for Education's website.
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000982/index.shtml
	It is the responsibility of each local authority to help manage the supply and demand for primary and secondary school places in their area and secure a place for every child of statutory school age who wants one. The Department provides capital funding to local authorities to ensure there are sufficient school places.

Schools: Admissions

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the required number of (a) primary and (b) secondary school places in (A) Pendle constituency and (B) East Lancashire in each of the next five years.

Nick Gibb: The Department collects information from each local authority on school capacity in maintained schools through an annual survey, which includes local authorities' own pupil forecasts. The most recent survey data relates to the position at May 2010 and is available on the Department for Education's website,
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000982/index.shtml
	The Department provides capital funding to local authorities to support the provision of sufficient school places. It is the responsibility of each local authority to manage the supply and demand for primary and secondary school places in their area and secure a place for every child of statutory school age who wants one.

Schools: Admissions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what variations in the requirement to comply with the School Admissions Code he has agreed in funding agreements with academies and free schools; and with which schools he has made any such agreement.

Nick Gibb: All academies and free schools are required by their funding agreements to comply with the school admissions code, except in cases where to do otherwise would better support local children. This Government have agreed one derogation from the school admissions code for a specific free school, the Canary Wharf College Free School, and has also agreed that because of the accelerated timescale for the opening of UTCs, studio schools and free schools, there is no requirement for these schools to be within the local process for co-ordinating admissions in the first year of establishment. For future years they must be within local authority co-ordination.

Schools: Expenditure

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of expenditure on all maintained schools was spent on (a) head teachers and other teaching staff, (b) classroom assistants, (c) other staff, (d) other current (revenue) spending and (e) capital spending in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: The available information on what proportion of expenditure on all maintained schools was spent on (a) head teachers and other teaching staff, (b) classroom assistants, (c)other staff, (d) other current (revenue) spending and (e) capital spending in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available is contained within the following tables:
	
		
			 Table 1: (a) to (d)—Revenue expenditure on teaching staff and all other categories in maintained schools for 1996-97 and 2009-10 
			  1996-97 2009-10 
			  £000 Percentage £000 Percentage 
			 Teaching staff(1) 9,304,145 618 18,301,482 51.8 
			 Education support staff(2) 964,266 6.4 4,932,966 14.0 
			 Other staff(3) 1,132,196 7.5 3,260,570 9.2 
			 Other current (revenue) spending(4) 3,656,733 24.3 8,838,958 25.0 
		
	
	
		
			 Total gross expenditure 15,057,340 100.0 35,333,976 100.0 
			 (1) Includes teachers employed directly by the school, including supernumerary/peripatetic teachers on short-term contracts and supply teaching staff who are covering curriculum release, long term absence, sickness absence and training absence. Relates to all contracted full time and part time teachers paid within the scope of the ‘The Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions) Order’ and includes expenditure on salaries and wages consisting of gross pay, including bonus and allowances, maternity pay and the employer's contributions to national insurance and superannuation. Also includes threshold payments and other payments relating to teacher reforms. Expenditure on supply teachers not employed directly from the school (i.e. paid via an agency or another third party) are also included. Does not include expenditure on teaching staff employed centrally by the local authority. (2) Salaries and wages of support staff employed directly by the school in support of students' learning: child care staff, classroom assistants/learning support assistants, exam invigilators, foreign language assistants, librarians, nursery assistants, pianists, residential child care officers at a residential special school, Supply education support staff, workshop and technology technicians, expenditure on salaries and wages consisting of gross pay, including of bonus and allowances, maternity pay and the employer's contributions to national insurance and superannuation, educational welfare officers. Education support staff not employed directly by the school are excluded from education support staff totals. (3) 1996-97 only includes expenditure on caretakers, cleaners, maintenance staff, groundsmen, porters, messengers, security staff, car park attendants, escorts and other persons who carry out premises related work and any other staff not included, administrative and clerical staff and any other staff not covered by footnotes 1, 2 or 3. 2009-10 includes all spend on staff employed directly by the school in support of students' learning not previously included in teaching staff and education support staff. Staff not employed directly by the school are excluded from these totals. (4) Includes all other spend such as those on running expenses, premises related expenditure, supply and services expenditure, transport expenditure, third party payments and transfer payments, in maintained schools in England. Spend on centrally retained expenses are not included in these totals. Notes: 1. Includes all local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. 2.( )1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DFES 3. Cash terms figures (£000). The data are taken from the local authorities Section 251 Outturn statement for 2009-10. 4. The above data used are at 31 March 2011. These data will not match the information published on 6 January 2011 because it was amended by the local authorities. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: (e): Capital spending on schools in 1996-97 and 2010-11 
			 £ billion 
			  1996-97 2010-11 
			 Capital expenditure 0.6 6.3 
			 Notes: 1. Capital expenditure includes supported borrowing that was allocated to local authorities to fund capital investment in schools. 2. Capital expenditure does not include PFI.

Schools: Risk Assessment

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to transfer health and safety responsibilities in schools from local authorities to governing bodies.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education is determined to reduce or amend health and safety law as it applies to schools to enable schools to take a proportionate and common sense approach to school activities.
	In this context we are currently considering the options for transferring employer health and safety duties to governing bodies. For all schools where the local authority is currently responsible for health and safety, this would mean that these schools would gain the discretion and freedom already enjoyed by academy trusts, foundation, voluntary-aided and free schools. In practical terms it is the governing body that acts as the school staffs employer, even where in the majority of cases, the formal employment contract is with the local authority.

Schools: Sports

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he has given to schools regarding the release of PE teachers to organise sport in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 22 November 2011
	The Department informed schools of the purpose of the funding for PE teacher release on 15 July 2011. The information below was communicated to all eligible schools who were told that funding will be for the two academic years 2011/12 and 2012/13.
	“The PE teacher release funding is not ring-fenced. The Department encouraged schools to use the funding to release secondary PE teachers from timetable for one day a week: to provide specialist PE and sport support to local primary schools and within their own school; to embed good practice; and to provide more competitive sport for all pupils, including the School Games.
	These PE teachers can:
	help schools to create sustainable school sport competition, both within and between schools, involving all pupils;
	help schools to involve their staff, parents, local people and young leaders and volunteers to lead competitive sport; and
	help schools to engage in sport pupils who are less active or who do not have equal access or opportunity to compete (e.g. pupils with disabilities)”.
	Schools were advised that they should, plan on the basis that funding will end by August 2013. They should seek to embed the work that the released PE teachers do within their school and with local primary schools into their core provision.

Teachers: Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the findings of the National Union of Teachers' technical note, entitled Comparison of payments into and from the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 December 2011
	It is unrealistic to assess the sustainability and affordability of the current Teachers' Pension scheme (TPS) based on such historic information. There have been lots of changes within the TPS since the scheme was established; this includes changes to contribution rates and the benefits that the scheme provides. It is much more realistic to look at the current and future position of the scheme's finances.
	The TPS, like most public service pension schemes, is an unfunded scheme. This means that current pension contributions, both from employees and employers, are used to help offset the cost of paying pensions to current pensioners. The shortfall between contributions received and pensions paid each year is met by the Exchequer. In 2005/06, expenditure on teachers' pensions was some £5 billion; by 2015/16 it is forecast to exceed £10 billion as a result of increases in life expectancy and growing numbers of teacher pensioners.

Teachers: Pensions

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the monetary value was of (a) contributions received and (b) payments made by the Teachers' Pension Scheme (i) in each of the last 10 years and (ii) since the inception of the scheme; and what estimate he has made of the monetary value of such contributions and payments in each of the next 10 years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 December 2011
	Teachers' pension scheme contributions and expenditure since 1949 are included in the following table. These are extracted from the appropriate published scheme accounts. The Teachers' pension scheme has its foundation in the School Teachers' (Superannuation) Act 1918 although the information requested is only available since 1949.
	
		
			 £  million 
			 Year ending 31 March Contributions Total expenditure 
			 1949 10 7 
			 1950 11 8 
			 1951 11 9 
			 1952 14 9 
			 1953 15 10 
			 1954 15 11 
			 1955 17 11 
			 1956 18 12 
			 1957 24 12 
			 1958 30 14 
			 1959 31 17 
			 1960 35 19 
			 1961 38 21 
			 1962 41 23 
			 1963 47 26 
			 1964 51 31 
			 1965 54 37 
			 1966 63 40 
			 1967 79 47 
			 1968 86 53 
			 1969 91 60 
			 1970 101 64 
			 1971 113 70 
			 1972 126 76 
			 1973 179 86 
			 1974 205 102 
			 1975 245 115 
			 1976 394 147 
			 1977 401 178 
			 1978 427 209 
			 1979 473 246 
			 1980 504 275 
			 1981 639 341 
			 1982 720 451 
			 1983 765 469 
			 1984 802 554 
			 1985 895 638 
			 1986 912 713 
			 1987 1,074 778 
			 1988 1,144 828 
			 1989 1,262 1,030 
			 1990 1,217 1,192 
			 1991 1,317 1,343 
			 1992 1,427 2,175 
			 1993 1,567 2,405 
			 1994 1,608 2,650 
			 1995 1,659 2,717 
			 1996 1,725 2,943 
			 1997 1,788 3,264 
			 1998 1,747 3,644 
			 1999 1,760 3,380 
			 2000 1,869 3,578 
			 2001 2,005 3,702 
			 2002 2,219 3,965 
			 2003 2,526 4,230 
			 2004 3,670 4,473 
			 2005 3,768 4,793 
			 2006 3,900 5,184 
			 2007 4,140 5,548 
			 2008 4,446 6,059 
			 2009 4,613 6,562 
			 2010 4,728 7,098 
			 2011 4,860 7,597 
		
	
	Due to changes in the accounting standards over the period the figures are not directly comparable. Specifically the expenditure and the contributions figures show a marked increase in 1992 and 2004 respectively, due to the impact of how pensions increase was accounted for within the scheme finances. This means that figures prior to these years do not show the full cost of providing the scheme.
	Estimates of contribution receipts and expenditure up to 2016-17 were published by the Office for Budget Responsibility on 29 November 2011 as part of the publication “Economic and fiscal outlook supplementary fiscal tables—November 2011”. An extract relating to the teachers' pension scheme is included as follows.
	
		
			 £ billion 
			  Expenditure Receipts 
			 2011-12 8.1 4.9 
			 2012-13 8.9 5.0 
			 2013-14 9.5 5.1 
			 2014-15 10.0 5.2 
			 2015-16 10.6 5.4 
			 2016-17 11.2 5.5

Teenage Pregnancy

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the number of girls in schools whose education has been interrupted by pregnancy in each of the last five years.

Sarah Teather: We do not hold data centrally on girls in schools whose education has been interrupted by pregnancy. However, guidance to schools and local authorities makes it clear that support should be directed to keeping pregnant pupils in school whenever possible and to return to full-time education as soon as possible after the birth. The Equality Act 2010 supports this policy. Under the Act it is unlawful for schools to treat pupils less favourably because of their pregnancy or maternity.
	England has declining teenage pregnancy rates; under-18 conceptions have fallen-by 18.1% to the lowest rate in almost thirty years. I have provided data in the following tables on conceptions to under-16 and under-18 year olds from 2005 to 2009 and conceptions by single year age(s) from 2005-09.
	DFE and ONS are currently engaged in a project to link teenage conception records to the National Pupil Database which contains information on pupils’ demographic characteristics, school attendance and educational attainment. Analysis of this linked dataset should give us a better understanding of the demographic and education profiles of teenagers who conceive and then go on either to give birth or have abortions. This will help to inform further work to reduce teenage pregnancy and improve sexual health.
	
		
			 Table 1: Under-18   c  onceptions for England: 2005-09 
			   Rate per 1,000 females aged 15-17 
			  Number of conceptions Conceptions (includes abortions and maternities) Conceptions leading to maternity 
			 2005 39,804 41.3 22.0 
			 2006 39,170 40.6 20.8 
			 2007 40,366 41.8 20.6 
			 2008 38,750 40.5 20.4 
			 2009 35,966 38.2 19.4 
			 Source: Office for National Statistics and DFE, 2011 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Under-16 conceptions for England: 2005-09 
			   Rate per 1,000 females aged 13-15 
			  Number of conceptions Conceptions (includes abortions and maternities) Conceptions leading to maternity 
			 2005 7,473 7.8 3.3 
			 2006 7,330 7.7 3.1 
			 2007 7,718 8.3 3.2 
			 2008 7,123 7.8 3.0 
			 2009 6,774 7.5 3.0 
			 Source: Office for National Statistics and DFE, 2011 
		
	
	Data on number of conceptions and conception rates by single year age are available for England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 3: Conceptions by single year age for England and Wales, 2005-09 
			    Conception rate per 1,000 girls 
			   Number of conceptions Conceptions (includes abortions and maternities) Conceptions leading to maternity 
			 Under 14(1) 2005 327 1.0 0.4 
			  2006 295 0.9 0.3 
			  2007 369 1.1 0.4 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 325 1.0 0.3 
			  2009 316 1.0 0.4 
			      
			 Age 14 2005 1,830 5.4 1.9 
			  2006 1,764 5.2 1.8 
			  2007 1,903 5.8 2.0 
			  2008 1,710 5.3 1.7 
			  2009 1,697 5.4 1.9 
			      
			 Age 15 2005 5,773 17.1 7.7 
			  2006 5,767 16.8 7.1 
			  2007 5,928 17.5 7.0 
			  2008 5,551 16.9 6.9 
			  2009 5,145 15.9 6.6 
			      
			 Age 16 2005 13,335 39.4 21.1 
			  2006 13,107 38.6 19.8 
			  2007 13,573 39.4 19.5 
			  2008 12,998 38.1 19.1 
			  2009 11,896 36.0 18.1 
			      
			 Age 17 2005 21,060 61.1 35.3 
			  2006 20,835 61.3 34.3 
			  2007 21,215 62.1 34.0 
			  2008 20,777 59.9 33.1 
			  2009 19,205 55.9 31.2 
			 (1) Rate per 1,000 girls aged 13 Source: Office for National Statistics